Scientists say that in the coming years, missions and projects planned to study the moon could have a significant impact on the Earth’s only natural satellite.
What is the Anthropocene?
The Anthropocene is an informal geological time unit that is used to describe the recent period in the planet’s history when human activity begins to show significant effects on climate and ecosystems.
Long used in the context of Earth, researchers indicate that the planet entered the Anthropocene period in the 1950s.
How do lunar missions impact the moon’s surface?
Scientists say that over the years, with repeated landings on the moon’s surface, humans have ignored “leave no trace” principles and left behind many items on the moon’s surface including “components of abandoned and discarded spacecraft, human waste bags, scientific equipment, and other items (such as flags, golf balls, photographs, and religious texts).”
Researchers state that human activity is more complex than one might imagine, as once changes are made to the moon’s surface, they last a very long time due to the absence of erosion since there are no winds or rain on the moon. This means that any human impact on the moon’s surface is likely to be permanent.
The importance of human impact on the moon’s surface
Researchers at the University of Kansas aim to highlight the negative impact that human influence has on the moon’s environment. They state that “the concept of lunar Anthropocene aims to increase awareness and reflection regarding our impact on the moon’s surface, as well as our effect on preserving historical artifacts.”
Researchers at the University of Kansas aim to preserve or classify items such as rovers, flags, golf balls, and footprints on the moon’s surface.
They say, “As archaeologists, we view the footprints on the moon as an extension of humanity’s journey out of Africa, a significant milestone in our existence as a species. These footprints are intertwined with the overarching narrative of evolution. Through this framework, we seek to engage planetary scientists along with archaeologists and anthropologists who may not typically participate in discussions about planetary sciences.”
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