The Lunar Cataclysm: Reality or "Mythconception"?

Research Article| February 01, 2009 The Lunar Cataclysm: Reality or “Mythconception”? Marc D. Norman Marc D. Norman *Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX 77058, USA E-mail: Marc.Norman@anu.edu.au Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elements (2009) 5 (1): 23–28. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.5.1.23 Article history first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Marc D. Norman; The Lunar Cataclysm: Reality or “Mythconception”?. Elements 2009;; 5 (1): 23–28. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.5.1.23 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyElements Search Advanced Search Abstract The impact history of the Moon has significant implications that go far beyond simply excavating the surface of a dry and lifeless world. The age distribution of lunar impact breccias inspired the idea of a catastrophic influx of asteroids and comets about 4 billion years ago and motivated new models of planetary dynamics. A late bombardment may have regulated environmental conditions on the early Earth and Mars and influenced the course of biologic evolution. The cataclysm hypothesis is controversial, however, and far from proven. Lunar explorers face the difficult task of establishing absolute ages of ancient impact basins and the sources for the impactors. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.