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The moon's largest impact crater scattered something priceless—and Artemis may be heading straight into it

Phys · · 988 words · By Krystal Kasal
Lunar Geology NASA Artemis Mission Scientific Modeling

The article discusses a new study published in Science Advances regarding the South Pole–Aitken basin on the moon. Researchers used 3D simulations to suggest the basin was formed by a north-to-south impact, which may allow NASA's Artemis mission to sample lunar mantle material.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-moon-largest-impact-crater-priceless.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

10 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 3
verified Verified By Reference 1
verified Verified 1
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“A new study, published in Science Advances, has refined some important details about the moon's largest and oldest impact crater, which stretches more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) on the far side of the moon.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm the existence of a study regarding the moon's largest impact crater (SPA) on the far side, spanning over 1,200 miles.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In sociology of scientific knowledge, Planck's principle is the view that scientific change does not occur because individual scientists change their mind, but rather that successive generations of sc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planck's_principle
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Science Advances is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary open-access scientific journal established in early 2015 and published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The journal's s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_Advances
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following scientific events occurred, or are scheduled to occur in 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in_science
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“NASA's upcoming Artemis mission to the moon, which is planned for 2028.”
CORROBORATED
Five independent news sources (NBC Washington, EuroNews, Deutsche Welle, The Hindu, and another unknown source) all report that NASA's Artemis IV mission is planned for 2028 to land on the moon.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artemis II (April 1–11, 2026) was a crewed flyby of the Moon. It was the first crewed flight of the NASA-led Artemis program and the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artemis III is an upcoming spaceflight mission, planned to be the second crewed mission in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program, with a targeted launch in late 2027. The crew will launch aboard th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_III
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aimed at returning humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program
+ 5 more evidence sources
verified
“The South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin is the moon's largest and oldest confirmed impact basin.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and NASA Science both explicitly state that the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin is the largest, oldest, and deepest impact basin on the Moon.
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web search NEUTRAL — The South Pole–Aitken basin is an immense impact crater on the far side of the Moon.It is the largest, oldest, and deepest basin recognized on the Moon. It is estimated that it was formed approximatel…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole–Aitken_basin
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web search NEUTRAL — The South Pole-Aitken basin (SPA) is the Moon’s largest impact feature , named because it spans the territory from the small Aitken crater to the Moon’s south pole, or nearly a quarter of the Moon's s…
https://science.nasa.gov/moon/lunar-craters/what-is-the-sout…
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web search NEUTRAL — The South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin is the largest and oldest recognized impact basin on the Moon. It's diameter is roughly 2,500 km or 1,550 miles. The Moon's circumference is just under 11,000 km, mea…
https://www.lroc.asu.edu/images/219
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“Previous models have suggested a size range of 200 to 400 km for the width of the impactor with an impact angle of 30° to 45°.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While web search results mention numerical impact simulations for the SPA basin, the specific range of 200-400 km width and 30-45 degree angle is not explicitly corroborated across multiple independent sources in the provided evidence; one source mentions a 350-400 km projectile at 30-45 degrees, but it doesn't fully match the claim's range.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 24 Hours of Spa (also known as the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa due to sponsorship reasons) was the 78th running of the 24 Hours of Spa. The race took place from 28 to 29 June 2025. The race w…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_24_Hours_of_Spa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (French pronunciation: [siʁkɥi də spa fʁɑ̃kɔʁʃɑ̃]), informally referred to as Spa, is a 7.004 km (4.352 mi) motor-racing circuit located in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_de_Spa-Francorchamps
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 24 Hours of Spa is an endurance racing event for cars held annually since 1924 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium. It is currently sponsored by CrowdStrike.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa_24_Hours
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Their best match showed that the SPA basin's shape is best explained by a 260-km-wide, differentiated impactor striking from north to south at a shallow angle, not fully penetrating into the lunar surface.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results (one from a scientific paper title and one from a news summary) confirm the finding that a 260-km-wide differentiated impactor striking north-to-south explains the SPA basin's shape.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A spa is a therapeutic water treatment. Spa or SPA may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa_(disambiguation)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa health treatments are known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (French pronunciation: [siʁkɥi də spa fʁɑ̃kɔʁʃɑ̃]), informally referred to as Spa, is a 7.004 km (4.352 mi) motor-racing circuit located in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Wa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_de_Spa-Francorchamps
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Our best-fit favoring a 13 km/s impact velocity implies that the SPA impactor was on a low inclination Earth-like orbit before it struck the moon.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence contains general papers on lunar ejecta and orbits, but does not explicitly corroborate the specific 13 km/s velocity and low inclination Earth-like orbit for the SPA impactor across multiple sources.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Super Sentai Series (スーパー戦隊シリーズ, Sūpā Sentai Shirīzu; lit. "Super Squadron Series") is a Japanese superhero team media franchise consisting of multiple television series and films produced by Toei…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Sentai
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Artemis II (April 1–11, 2026) was a crewed flyby of the Moon. It was the first crewed flight of the NASA-led Artemis program and the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“the most likely source of the SPA impactor probably originated within the Mars zone rather than within the Venus-Earth zone.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results for this claim returned irrelevant results about luxury spas and wellness centers rather than astronomical data regarding the Mars zone.
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web search NEUTRAL — Experience elevated wellness at Fusion Spa & Resort. Saunas, pools, spa treatments, dining, and serene spaces designed for complete relaxation.
https://fusionsparesort.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Find the best Spas near you on Yelp - see all Spas open now.Explore other popular Beauty & Spas near you from over 7 million businesses with over 142 million reviews and opinions from Yelpers.
https://www.yelp.com/nearme/spas
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web search NEUTRAL — Indulge in relaxation at the WorldSprings Spa. Our treatments and services rejuvenate your body and mind! Explore our world-class spa, offering the most innovative approaches to massages, facials, and…
https://www.worldsprings.com/spa
info
“The simulations showed that the ejecta landed in a "butterfly-like" pattern with the mantle material distributed approximately 550 km beyond the rim in the downrange direction and 650 km in the cross-range direction.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions simulations of the SPA basin and mantle heating, but the specific 'butterfly-like' pattern and the exact distances (550 km and 650 km) are not corroborated by multiple independent sources in the evidence provided.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — North America 550 km seismic tomography exploration targeting.The various linear and branching shear systems at this depth show clearly. We should absolutely be right in the middle of the mobile mantl…
https://www.geotreks.com.au/work/giant-ring-structures/disco…
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web search NEUTRAL — We tested a wide range of impact parameters and constrained model results with recent geophysical data. We found the crustal structure of the SPA basin is best fit by an oblique impact (30–45°) of a 3…
https://experts.arizona.edu/en/publications/the-south-pole-a…
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web search NEUTRAL — The formation of the largest and most ancient lunar impact basin, South Pole–Aitken (SPA), was a defining event. in the Moon’s evolution. Using numerical simulations, we show that widespread mantle he…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359835134_A_South_P…
verified
“the upcoming Artemis lunar mission is planning to land in the south polar region of the moon, near the south rim of SPA”
VERIFIED
NASA's official program description and Wikipedia confirm the Artemis program aims to land humans near the lunar south pole, which is where the SPA basin is located.
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 10, 2026 · Explore how NASA’s Artemis mission will return humans to the Moon, prepare for Mars, and shape the future of space exploration.
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/
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web search NEUTRAL — Artemis was a kourotrophic (child-nurturing) deity, being the patron and protector of young children, especially young girls. Artemis was worshipped as one of the primary goddesses of childbirth and m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Artemis program is a Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aimed at returning humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_program
info
“Shigeru Wakita et al, A southward differentiated impactor forms the tapered shape of the South Pole–Aitken impact basin on the Moon, Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aea1984”
SINGLE SOURCE
The paper title and authors are mentioned in the web search results for claim 4, but the specific citation details (Science Advances 2026, DOI) were not explicitly verified as a standalone bibliographic entry in the provided evidence, though the content matches the study described in claim 4.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.