Scientists have discovered evidence of an ancient magma ocean on the Moon’s south pole, providing new insights into the Moon's origins. This revelation comes from lunar soil samples analyzed from the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which landed near the Moon’s southernmost region in August 2023.

The soil's composition, rich in elements like sodium, magnesium, and iron, suggests that the Moon once had a magma ocean lasting tens of millions of years. This finding supports the theory that the Moon formed from the debris of a massive impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body around 4.24 billion years ago.

As the Moon cooled, lighter minerals like ferroan anorthosite floated to the surface, creating the lunar highlands. This discovery, made using advanced technology aboard India’s Vikram lander, marks a significant milestone in understanding the Moon’s geological history.

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