Lunar Volcanism in the Time of the Dinosaurs!
Photos from NASA Orbiter show lunar volcanic activity during the Cretaceous Period
Post Author - Ellis Nolan
The T-Rex just can’t catch a break! New data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggests the Moon might have had active volcanoes during the time of the dinosaurs.
Scientists have known about volcanism on the moon since 1969, but it was believed that lava stopped flowing on the lunar surface around a billion years ago. That is, until the Apollo 15 astronauts photographed an odd-looking volcanic deposit in 1971. The deposit, named “Ina,” appeared to be much younger than any other deposit on the moon, which led scientists to believe volcanic activity could have occurred on the moon much more recently (geologically speaking). However, Ina was not visible from the Earth, and so further research was stifled.
Flash forward to 2009, NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (known as the LRO), a spacecraft capable of capturing visible and ultraviolet images, to help scientists conduct different studies of the moon. In a recent study of photographs from the LRO, scientists found about 70 deposits similar to Ina. Not only that, but the numerous deposits are relatively spread out, suggesting that this was not an isolated burst of volcanism, but demonstrative of a differing geological history.
Preparation work being done on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
However, the question still remains: how old are these deposits? The scientists in the study used information from lunar soil samples and the size of the deposits to make estimates. Three are thought to have formed less than 100 million years ago, and Ina itself might have formed less than 50 million years ago. To give an idea of the scale of that difference, around a billion years ago (when it was originally thought that the moon’s volcanism stopped) was the beginning of multicellular life on Earth, whereas 100 million years ago was the middle of the Cretaceous Period!
This new evidence has more even implications beyond what dinosaurs saw in the night sky—scientists will have to rewrite the book on lunar geography, as it means the mantle of the moon was much hotter for much longer than previously thought. Safe to say, even if the dinosaurs could have gone to the moon, they probably wouldn’t have liked what they found.
Want a space rock for yourself? Check out our Lunar Meteorite collection!
Featured Product
Salyut 7 Space Station
Latest News
-
Jul 10, 2025 Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans! Read More -
Jul 04, 2025 Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages! Read More -
Jun 30, 2025 When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event Read More -
Jun 27, 2025 The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Releases its First Photos! Read More -
Jun 19, 2025 Snakestones, Shaligrams, Ammonites, Oh My! All About Ammonites Read More -
Jun 11, 2025 The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers Read More
Cool Things!
Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans!
When you think of the Stone Age, scenes of Neanderthals chasing down great beasts of old for food and furs might come to mind. Many studies have shown the invention and development of stone tools were essential to early humans’ efforts to hunt animals, but according to a recent study, that perspective may have an overbearing presence in the perception of the Stone Age.
Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages!
For one student at Lund University in Sweden, reading studies and collecting archaeological evidence wasn’t enough to grasp the full picture of an awe-inspiring people of the Nordic region: The Vikings. In a new study, a team of researchers set out to learn more about these nomads of legend by setting off on their own voyage of the seas, complete with historically accurate ships!
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Releases its First Photos!
The dazzling images in this article are some of the first to be released by scientists using equipment at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the Elqui Province of Chile. However, these images represent just the tip of the iceberg for the new facility.
Specimen Deep Dives
When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event
Returning to the Moon: The Apollo 14 Mission
The Secrets of the Space Shuttle: Learn about Mini Museum's Shuttle Tile Material!
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!