Establishing the absolute and relative chronology of ancient lunar events is of fundamental importance to our understanding of early Solar System history and the evolution of rocky planetary bodies. In this endeavor, the Moon has a unique quantitative role, as it is the only planetary body from which absolute and relative ages can be calibrated…

With gravity data acquired by the dual Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft, in conjunction with altimetry data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) investigation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, we investigate buried craters within the lunar nearside maria.  The contrast of low reflectance material of the lunar nearside maria against the high…

Until recently, the Moon had been thought to have a relatively low volatile content due to a combination of its low gravity and hot impact origin. Accordingly, past studies to investigate the Moon’s formation and its chemical and thermal evolution have focused on a bulk Moon with minimal volatile content and absent of water. However,…