The moon’s two grand canyons formed in less than 10 minutes

Studying these canyons can help prepare for future human lunar missions

Close-up of the surface of the moon from above.

Two grand canyons on the moon extend like bunny ears from the Schrödinger impact basin near the lunar south pole, as seen in this image taken from lunar orbit.

Ernie T. Wright/SVS/NASA

A giant impact 3.8 billion years ago sent a curtain of rock flying away from a point near the moon’s south pole.