Articles tagged with Earths Moon
A recent international workshop aimed to turn plans for a crewed lunar observatory into reality. The workshop, led by Vanderbilt astrophysicist Karan Jani, brought together experts from GW science, planetary science, and lunar exploration to discuss the geophysical properties of the moon and opportunities for observation.
The study provides evidence that lunar volcanic activity persisted for a longer period than previously thought, extending the duration of geological processes on the Moon. The samples also reveal that the Moon's interior was still evolving at around 2 billion years ago.
Researchers have found 47 lunar fragments with crystallization ages of 2.03 billion years, filling a 2-billion-year gap in the Moon's volcanic history. The samples provide conclusive evidence that magmatic activity on the Moon persisted until at least two billion years ago.
The Chang'E-5 mission has provided new insights into the Moon's surface features, including the Ocean of Storms, which may have been even more stormy than previously thought. The samples also reveal a distinct lunar basalt composition different from Earth-based basalt.
Scientists have made the second-ever measurement of the free neutron lifetime from space, reducing uncertainty by an order of magnitude. This method could bring to an end a decades-long puzzle in fundamental physics and potentially reveal new physics beyond the standard model.
Curtin University researchers have helped determine the age of the youngest rocks ever found on the Moon, revealing they are approximately two billion years old. This discovery provides new calibration points for cratering chronology, enabling more accurate age dating across planetary surfaces.
The Chang'e-5 mission achieved a successful soft lunar landing using an innovative guidance, navigation and control system. The LAM used various sensors to navigate its descent and landing, with multiple sensors providing redundancy to ensure the success of the mission.
The study proposes a novel 'hit-and-run-return' scenario, where pre-planetary bodies crash into each other, slow down, and then merge again. This led to the formation of Venus as having had a very different experience in its growth compared to Earth.
The Chang'e-5 mission brought back nearly two kilograms of lunar rocks and dust, including a mix of 'exotic' fragments that may preserve records of other lunar surface areas. The youngest geological area of the Moon's nearside has yielded insights into past volcanic activity
Engineers have successfully extracted water and oxygen from lunar soil using a two-step process, which could support future human exploration of the Moon. The system uses a mineral mixture that mimics lunar soil and produces gases through electrolysis, making it scalable and self-sustained.
China's space transportation systems have made significant leaps in recent decades, with advancements in launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and artificial intelligence. The country aims to become a powerful space nation by the mid-21st century, with plans for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that Mars' small size limits its habitability due to a lack of retained volatiles. Researchers used potassium isotopes to determine the presence and abundance of volatile elements on Mars, finding a correlation between body size and volatile composition.
Curtin University researchers have found the Moon may have been subjected to more extensive asteroid and body impacts than initially believed. By analyzing lunar impact events during its early formation, they discovered that these collisions could have left fewer visible cratering imprints.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that lunar samples do not show signs of magnetization from a magnetic shield. The lack of magnetization suggests that the moon has never had a prolonged dynamo field. Without this protection, solar wind implanted volatiles like helium 3 in the lunar soil.
A team of engineers from the University of Toledo is working with NASA to develop more resilient solar power conversion systems for future Mars and Moon missions. The three-year grant will investigate ways to make these systems tolerant to space-related radiation, which degrades their performance.
Researchers at HI-SEAS analog lunar habitat in Hawaii use spacesuits to explore lava tubes, mimicking conditions on the moon and Mars. The study aims to improve methods and suits for future astrobiology research.
Volcanic rock samples collected during NASA's Apollo missions hold clues to the Moon's iron core formation and magma ocean crystallization, a new analysis found. The study used SIMS technique to analyze sulfur isotope composition in Apollo 15 and 17 samples.
Researchers found that most women's menstrual cycles aligned with synodic months at certain intervals, while also showing synchronization with tropical months in younger women, suggesting a stronger effect on menstrual cycles during long winter nights when exposed to moonlight.
Research shows that sleep cycles in people oscillate during the 29.5-day lunar cycle, with people going to bed later and sleeping less in the days leading up to a full moon. This natural adaptation may have allowed ancestors to take advantage of available evening light.
A team of scientists led by Charlotte Förster discovered a correlation between moon phases and women's menstrual cycles. The researchers found that the strength of the moon's light-dark cycle contributes to synchronizing menstruation in women, while gravity also plays a role.
Researchers ran supercomputer simulations to track material from the early Earth and a Mars-sized planet, Theia, after their collision. Simulations produced an orbiting body that could potentially evolve into a Moon-like object.
A recent study suggests that bacteria can extract useful materials from rocks on Mars and the Moon, paving the way for new technologies to support human exploration and settlement. The findings also highlight the potential of microorganisms to enhance the removal of rare earth elements from lunar and Martian landscapes.
Research led by Durham University found that massive collisions could have stripped the early Earth of up to 60% of its atmosphere, leading to the Moon's creation. The study developed a new method for predicting atmospheric loss from any collision, which could aid in understanding the Moon's origins and other giant impacts.
A research tool has been developed to help people and lunar rovers estimate travel times with a high degree of reliability. The tool considers factors such as pedestrian traffic, road conditions, and bus breakdowns to provide a more accurate prediction of arrival times.
Researchers from Tohoku University discovered a novel iron-based superelastic alloy capable of withstanding extreme temperatures. The new alloy can operate within a wider temperature range than conventional metal-based SEAs, making it suitable for outer-space exploration and other demanding applications.
A research team analyzed a 'gel-like' substance discovered by the Chang'e-4 rover, finding it to be an impact melt breccia. The surrounding regolith may have originated from a differentiated melt pool or igneous rocks.
A study examines angular momentum constraints on the Moon's formation, revealing that high obliquity scenarios are incompatible with the present-day system. In contrast, low obliquity scenarios could explain how a fast-rotating postimpact Earth slowed to its present rotation rate.
Researchers from Politecnico di Milano have successfully used laser 3D printing to create components from lunar regolith, a potential game-changer for future space missions. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using local resources in space, enabling In-Situ-Resource-Utilisation (ISRU) and reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies.
Researchers found varying oxygen isotopic composition depending on lunar rock types, suggesting minimal mixing between the Moon and vapor atmosphere. The data imply Theia formed farther from the Sun than Earth.
Researchers successfully grew ten crops in Mars and Moon soil simulant, including garden cress, tomato, and radish. The study found that nine out of ten crops produced edible parts, with the exception of spinach.
The China Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) has accomplished significant advancements in lunar research since its launch in 2007. The program plans to send the first sample-return mission to Earth, dubbed Chang'E 5, and establish a Lunar Scientific Research Station by 2030.
A team of researchers has reconstructed the late accretion history of the moon, resolving a long-standing problem about the source of highly siderophile elements. By modeling millions of meteor impacts, they found that less material was retained on the moon than on Earth due to its smaller size and shallow impact angles.
Researchers have discovered a large mass of material beneath the South Pole-Aitken basin, the Moon's largest crater. The mass, weighing over half a mile, may contain metal from an asteroid that crashed into the Moon and formed the crater.
A cross-disciplinary study by UH Manoa scientists reveals chemical and physical evidence of water formation on the Moon. The research proposes a mechanism where solar wind protons, lunar minerals, and micrometeorite impacts interact to produce water vapor.
Researchers from the University of Münster find that the Moon's collision with Earth brought large quantities of water, essential for life. The discovery sheds light on the Moon's origin and its role in making Earth a habitable planet.
Scientists use deuterium ions to create water on lunar samples, suggesting micrometeorite impacts can generate and liberate water. The results provide insight into potential water formation mechanisms on the moon and other airless bodies in the Solar System.
A team of researchers discovered a grain of dust forged in a stellar explosion, challenging current theories about how stars seed the universe. The grain, LAP-149, is highly enriched in carbon-13, providing evidence that novae contributed to the building blocks of our solar system.
Researchers at Yale University and Japan offer an explanation for the moon's composition, suggesting that magma played a key role in its formation. The new model suggests that 80% of the moon is made up of proto-Earth materials, contradicting previous theories that suggested the impactor was responsible.
Scientists have observed that asteroid Bennu's rotation period is getting shorter by about 1 second every 100 years, a change that could lead to dramatic changes in the space rock. This acceleration is likely due to the YORP effect, which causes asteroids to spin faster or slower as sunlight hits them.
The Moon appeared to move in two opposite directions during a lunar transit, due to the SDO's faster orbital speed. The spacecraft caught this phenomenon, resulting in a 'freeze-frame' effect as the Moon remained in view.
The Chang'e 4 spacecraft landed safely in the Von Kármán crater, a 186-kilometer-diameter impact basin. The LRO's spectacular view reveals the massive mountain range and the lander itself is barely visible due to its distance from the camera.
Large moons in stable orbits around their parent planets are thought to be capable of hosting satellite submoons, with four bodies in our Solar System potentially fitting this description. However, the lack of observed submoons may offer insights into planetary formation and evolution.
Researchers analyzed magnesium stable isotopes in lunar rock samples, finding they match the Inner Solar System's bulk composition before fractionation occurred. The results suggest the initial Moon impact did not separate isotopes and instead indicate a lunar magma ocean that re-melted and affected later basalt formations.
Researchers have confirmed the existence of two elusive clouds of dust in semi-stable orbits around the Earth, known as Kordylewski clouds. The observations were made using a linearly polarising filter system attached to a camera lens at Judit Slíz-Balogh's private observatory in Hungary.
Researchers at ITMO University have developed a high-precision laser for measuring the distance between the Earth and Moon, achieving an accuracy of just a few millimeters. The new laser will be used in the GLONASS navigation system, allowing for real-time correction of satellite coordinates and improved navigation capabilities.
Scientists reconstruct Earth's history with a new method that links astronomical theory to geological observation, enabling the analysis of ancient climate change. The study reveals days on Earth were over 18 hours long 1.4 billion years ago, and the moon's movement away contributed to the lengthening day.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters estimates Mercury's crust to be 16 miles thick and denser than aluminum. This finding supports the theory that Mercury's crust formed largely through volcanic activity, shedding light on the planet's formation.
Researchers found a small but measurable difference in oxygen isotopes between lunar and terrestrial rocks, proposing that most of Earth's water was acquired during the main stage of its growth. This challenges the widely accepted theory that the Moon formed from debris left over after a giant impact.
New research analyzing oxygen isotopic compositions of lunar and terrestrial samples supports a high-energy collision model for the Moon's origin. Most of Earth's water is believed to have been delivered before the Moon-forming impact, contradicting previous proposals that it was added later.
A new explanation for the Moon's origin proposes it formed inside a rapidly spinning, vaporized rock cloud called a synestia. The model resolves several problems in lunar formation and matches the pattern of the Moon's composition.
New research suggests the Moon may be wetter than initially thought, raising questions about its origin story and composition. Scientists have developed models to determine whether a wet Moon is compatible with a giant impact formation, finding that it's not an unlikely scenario.
Researchers found that the Moon's excessive equatorial bulge formed slowly over four billion years ago as it receded from Earth. The study suggests a weaker young Sun may have enabled this process, with implications for our understanding of Earth's early energy dissipation.
Researchers found a correlation between seismic tremor and lunar cycles before a surprise eruption of Ruapehu volcano in 2007. The study suggests that tidal forces could provide advanced warning of certain types of volcanic eruptions, which are otherwise hard to predict.
A study published in Seismological Research Letters found no correlation between great earthquake rates and lunar phases or day of the year. Large earthquakes were matched with lunar phase and day data to rule out random patterns, and no significant effects were detected.
Research suggests that sixbar wrasse baby fish settle on coral reefs during the moon's last quarter, resulting in a 10% larger size, likely due to delayed arrival. This delay allows them to avoid predators on bright full moon nights and increases their chances of survival.
Researchers at UT Dallas's CRSS project analyzed thousands of hours of Apollo mission audio, digitizing and organizing the recordings. The team developed algorithms to process, recognize, and analyze the audio, enabling them to track speakers, understand human interaction, and reconstruct conversations.
Researchers simulated massive collisions after the Moon's formation, finding that moon-sized objects delivered significantly more mass to the young planet. This late accretion period lasted for hundreds of millions of years and had important consequences for the earliest evolution of Earth.
Thorsten Denk's device can make enough oxygen and water for 6 to 8 astronauts using a thermal solar reactor, powered by concentrated solar radiation. The process involves chemical splitting of water from lunar soil, followed by electrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will capture an image of the Moon's shadow on Earth during a solar eclipse on Aug. 21. The public can participate by waving at the Moon, with the camera resolution able to see continents and large surface features.
ASU's ShadowCam optical camera will observe permanently shadowed regions on the Moon monthly, detecting seasonal changes and measuring terrain. The instrument will merge images with Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data to create complete maps of craters hosting these enigmatic regions.