Scientists: the moon is already in the Anthropocene

“In the context of another space race, lunar landscapes half a century from now will be completely different because of the actions of different countries. We aim to shatter the myth of lunar statics and remind us of the importance of responsible lunar exploration and development,” Holcomb added.

Although the Moon has no atmosphere or magnetosphere, it has a fragile exosphere of gas, dust and ice in shaded areas. Upcoming missions should take every opportunity to mitigate the harmful effects on the Moon’s environment.