Study reveals Moon formed 4.51 billion years ago, older than previous estimates

A new study suggests the Moon is about 4.51 billion years old, older than the previously estimated age of 4.35 billion years. This new age is based on evidence of a remelting event that may have obscured the Moon's true history. Researchers believe the Moon formed from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body. Previous estimates relied on dating lunar rocks, but discrepancies in thermal models and crater counts indicated a need for a revised timeline. The study proposes that tidal heating caused a remelting event around 4.35 billion years ago, which reset the apparent age of lunar samples. This finding aligns the Moon's formation with current theories of how terrestrial planets formed.