Early Geologic History of the Moon

Abstract

The Moon provides a unique window into the early evolution of terrestrial planets, which is inaccessible on other planets due to the obliteration of their early surfaces by plate tectonics and long-term erosion. Since its formation at ~4.5 Ma, the Moon has recorded and preserved the entire history of planet differentiation, volcanic processes, and exterior impact cratering processes. Estimations of the early lunar impact flux and magmatism have profound implications to the more complex evolution of the solar system, Earth-Moon system, and other terrestrial planets.