New York: More than 10,000 relatively new fault lines (cracks) have been identified on the Moon’s surface. A new study, published in the scientific journal

The Planetary Science Journal* on October 14, 2026, sheds light on the process of the Moon’s contraction and provides the most detailed estimate to date regarding how much the volume of our natural satellite has decreased throughout its recent geological history.

The research identified over 10,000 relatively new fault lines on the lunar surface, revealing that the Moon’s radius has shrunk by approximately 45 meters over the past 400 to 800 million years.

Based on their observations, the researchers also concluded that—assuming the rate of the Moon’s contraction has remained constant over time—its radius is decreasing by approximately 6 to 11 centimeters every million years.