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Copernicus crater was formed by an impact about 800 million
years ago, which gouged out this 93 kilometer wide, 3
kilometer deep bowl and blasted material over 800 kilometers
across the surrounding lunar landscape—visible today as rays
of “ejecta” fanning out from the crater. The Apollo 12
astronauts, who landed about 300 kilometers south of
Copernicus, collected some of this material, which is what
allowed scientists to figure out the crater’s age.
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