When humans get involved in places they weren't invited, things start to change. That's enough, they believe, to declare a new epoch on the Moon—the “Lunar Anthropocene.” Similarly, 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 cause by human activities, which would be too late.” “Multiple countries will be present, leading to numerous challenges.” “Future missions,” they wrote, “must consider mitigating deleterious effects on lunar environments.” They also want to ensure that each human interaction with and impact on the satellite is well chronicled, and aim to work with archeologists and anthropologists along the way to ensure that recording. By cataloging each footprint on the Moon's surface—not to mention the presence of rovers, golf balls, and the left-behind bags of human waste—we could hope to could preserve a detailed record of human interaction. “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.” Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. Experts May Have Found Evidence of Life on Mars New Clues May Explain Why Mars Lost Its Atmosphere The Moon Is Hiding Molten Goo in Its Deep Mantle A Wobble in Mars' Orbit Could Detect Dark Matter