Southward impact excavated magma ocean at the lunar South Pole–Aitken basin

Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna (), William F. Bottke, Adrien Broquet, Alexander J. Evans, Gabriel Gowman, Brandon C. Johnson, James T. Keane, Janette N. Levin, Ananya Mallik, Simone Marchi, Samantha A. Moruzzi, Arkadeep Roy and Shigeru Wakita
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Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna: University of Arizona
William F. Bottke: NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)
Adrien Broquet: German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Alexander J. Evans: Brown University
Gabriel Gowman: University of Arizona
Brandon C. Johnson: NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)
James T. Keane: NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)
Janette N. Levin: Brown University
Ananya Mallik: University of Arizona
Simone Marchi: NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)
Samantha A. Moruzzi: University of Arizona
Arkadeep Roy: University of Arizona
Shigeru Wakita: NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI)

Nature, 2025, vol. 646, issue 8084, 297-302

Abstract: Abstract The ancient South Pole–Aitken impact basin provides a key data point for our understanding of the evolution of the Moon, as it formed during the earliest pre-Nectarian epoch of lunar history1, excavated more deeply than any other known impact basin2,3 and is found on the lunar far side, about which less is known than the well-explored near side. Here we show that the tapering of the basin outline and the more gradual topographic and crustal thickness transition towards the south support a southward impact trajectory, opposite of that commonly assumed. A broad thorium-rich and iron-rich ejecta deposit southwest of the basin is consistent with partial excavation of late-stage magma ocean liquids. These observations indicate that thorium-rich magma ocean liquids persisted only beneath the southwestern half of the basin at the time of impact, matching predictions for the transition from a global magma ocean to a local enrichment of potassium, rare-earth elements and phosphorus (KREEP) in the near-side Procellarum KREEP Terrane. These results have important implications for the upcoming human exploration of the lunar south pole by Artemis, as proposed landing sites are now recognized to sit on the downrange rim and thorium-rich impact ejecta of the basin.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09582-y

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