The moon is shrinking. 10,000 cracks on the lunar surface reveal by how much

A recent research project has revealed significant changes to the Moon’s surface, documenting approximately 10,000 newly formed fractures across its terrain. Scientists utilized data collected between 2018 and 2023 from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) to identify these fissures. The analysis indicates that the Moon is actively contracting, a phenomenon previously theorized but now demonstrably observed. These cracks are primarily concentrated in the lunar highlands, suggesting a gradual reduction in the Moon’s overall size. Researchers estimate this shrinkage amounts to roughly one-third of an inch per year, representing a substantial loss over billions of years.