The University of Kansas team argues the Moon entered a new epoch—the Lunar Anthropocene—when Luna 2 impacted the surface in September 1959. With more than 100 spacecraft interactions since, human activity is moving sediments, leaving artifacts, and threatening delicate features like the exosphere and permanently shadowed ice. The authors call for formal recognition, better protections, and systematic cataloging of human impacts in collaboration with archaeologists.
Scientists Propose a New 'Lunar Anthropocene' — Humans Have Altered the Moon Since 1959
Experts Think We’ve Entered The Lunar AnthropoceneMichael Dunning - Getty Images
Researchers argue that human activity has already transformed the Moon enough to define a new geological epoch: the Lunar Anthropocene. They trace its beginning to September 1959, when the Soviet probe Luna 2 first struck the lunar surface, and note that more than 100 spacecraft interactions since then have made humans a significant force reshaping our natural satellite.
What the Researchers Found
A team from the University of Kansas published the proposal in Nature Geoscience, detailing how repeated missions—ranging from crash landings to crewed visits—have already altered lunar landscapes. The authors describe changes including redistributed regolith (surface sediments), disturbed terrain from rover operations, and new physical artifacts such as hardware, scientific instruments, and even personal items left behind.
“This idea is much the same as the discussion of the Anthropocene on Earth—the exploration of how much humans have impacted our planet,” said Justin Holcomb, the study’s lead author. “On the Moon, we argue the Lunar Anthropocene already has commenced, but we want to prevent massive damage or a delay of its recognition until we can measure a significant lunar halo caused by human activities, which would be too late.”
Why This Matters
The paper highlights several vulnerable lunar features. The Moon’s extremely tenuous exosphere—composed of dust and trace gases—can be altered by exhaust plumes and surface disturbances. Ice in permanently shadowed craters, prized for its scientific and potential resource value, is particularly sensitive to contamination and thermal disturbance. The researchers warn that without careful planning, future missions could irrevocably change or destroy these fragile environments.
Unlike many wilderness areas on Earth, the Moon has no widely enforced "leave no trace" ethic. Abandoned hardware is already the single largest physical imprint on the surface, but human artifacts also include rover tracks, footprints, golf balls, and waste. The team urges systematic documentation and legal protections to preserve scientifically and culturally significant sites.
Recommendations
To address these risks the authors call for:
- Formal recognition of the Lunar Anthropocene to raise awareness of human impacts.
- Stronger policies and international protections for sensitive lunar locations.
- Comprehensive cataloging of human-made features—performed in collaboration with archaeologists and anthropologists—to record our extraterrestrial heritage.
- Mission designs that minimize contamination of exosphere and permanently shadowed regions.
“As archaeologists, we perceive footprints on the Moon as an extension of humanity’s journey out of Africa, a pivotal milestone in our species’ existence,” Holcomb said. “These imprints are intertwined with the overarching narrative of evolution.”
Looking Ahead
With a new space race underway and multiple nations and private companies planning lunar missions, the researchers warn the lunar landscape could look very different within decades. They emphasize that early recognition, careful stewardship, and international cooperation are essential to safeguard both scientific value and humanity’s cultural legacy on the Moon.
