Articles tagged with Earths Moon
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.
New research from Brown University suggests that lunar volcano Ina is actually around 3.5 billion years old, not within the past 100 million years as previously thought. The feature's youthful appearance was attributed to its porous surface, created by magmatic foam, which hides regolith buildup and skews crater counts.
A group of scientists led by Kirby Runyon argue for a definition of 'planet' that focuses on the body's intrinsic qualities, such as mass and gravitational shape. This new definition would expand the number of planets in our solar system to approximately 110, including Pluto.
Researchers observed 'traffic jams' in the Rutford Ice Stream in Antarctica, where ocean tides speed up or slow down glacial movement. The study used COSMO-SkyMed radar-imaging satellites to gather near-continuous data for nearly nine months.
A new theory proposes a single high-energy collision as the origin of the Moon's formation, explaining its unusual composition and orbit. The alternative model suggests that the Moon condensed from the same material as Earth, resulting in their similar chemical makeup.
A new research paper suggests that the impact that formed the moon also caused calamitous changes to Earth's rotation and tilt. The model indicates that the remaining anomalies in the moon's orbit are relics of the Earth-moon system's explosive past, with a large tilt of up to 80 degrees.
A recent study using precise potassium isotopic data confirms the Moon was formed from a violent impact that vaporized Earth's mantle and mixed it with the impactor. This challenges the giant impact hypothesis, which had trouble matching geochemical signatures between Earth and Moon.
A study by University of Tokyo researchers found a statistically significant increase in cow births during near full and full moon phases. The study suggests that cows may be a suitable model for studying the lunar cycle's impact on animal births, with further research needed to confirm results.
A new study by Florida State University researcher Michael Delp suggests that Apollo astronauts are experiencing higher rates of cardiovascular problems, likely caused by their exposure to deep space radiation. The study found that 43% of deceased Apollo astronauts died from a cardiovascular problem, four to five times higher than non-...
A NASA camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite captured a view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth for the second time in a year. The images were taken using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and show the moon crossing over the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Researchers studied 5812 children from five continents to determine if lunar phases affect sleep duration, with a significant 1% decrease in full moon nights. The study found no substantial impact on behavior, contrary to folklore and myths.
New University of Washington research shows that the lunar forces affect the amount of rain on Earth, though very slightly, with a change of about 1 percent of total rainfall variation. The effect is due to the moon's gravitational tug causing higher air pressure and increasing temperature, making it less favorable for precipitation.
Researchers use oxygen isotope analysis to confirm Earth and moon had similar chemical composition after collision, suggesting a head-on impact. The study also suggests the early Earth may have lost water due to subsequent asteroid collisions.
Dr. William Bottke will present on a relatively tranquil time between two violent bombardment phases in the early solar system, exploring evidence from various sources including planet formation models and ancient samples.
Lunar rocks are depleted in volatile elements like potassium, sodium, and zinc. The Moon formed from an Earth-orbiting disk of vapor and molten matter, with the inner disk melt being preferentially deposited onto the Earth rather than the growing Moon.
Researchers cast doubt on lunar impact date methods by analyzing meteorite-impact zircons, suggesting contextual information loss upon separation from host rocks. This may affect our understanding of the late heavy bombardment on the young Moon, which could influence life's emergence timeline.
The analysis reveals that modern oceans have a unique and unparalleled biodiversity, with numerous species coexisting due to the fossil record's large Internet database. Human impacts on the environment could lead to a decline in biodiversity.
The Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a small section of the expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago. The Veil Nebula, covering six full moons on the sky, is composed of wisps of gas that were once a star 20 times more massive than our sun.
Scientists at NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have captured the rare alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth. During this event, a partial solar eclipse was visible from parts of Africa and Antarctica, providing a unique opportunity to study the effects of these celestial alignments.
A new laser ablation resonance ionization mass spectrometry technique has successfully dated an Earth rock analogous to the rocks covering one-third of the Moon's nearside. This breakthrough enables direct dating of lunar terrains, filling a critical gap in understanding the Solar System's history.
Researchers found that Titan's atmosphere loses hydrocarbons and nitriles due to a polar wind powered by sunlight and the Saturnian magnetic field. This phenomenon has been observed on Earth in polar regions, suggesting Titan may have a similarly widespread 'polar wind' beyond its poles.
The CODEX device will allow unmanned rovers to determine the age of rocks on the Moon and Mars by analyzing radioactive elements. This technology has major implications for understanding the history of the inner solar system, including the duration of bombardment and volcanism.
Scientists have found a record of the ancient Moon-forming giant impact observable in stony meteorites. The team used data analysis and numerical modeling work to infer the Moon formed about 4.47 billion years ago.
Researchers at University of Maryland generate new isotopic fingerprint of the moon, reconciling accepted model with surprisingly similar Earth and moon fingerprints. The findings suggest a thorough mixing of debris before forming the moon, supporting an explosive and interconnected past.
A UCLA professor of planetary astronomy confirms that the timing of human births and hospital admissions is not influenced by the lunar cycle. The study highlights the persistence of flawed beliefs despite evidence, attributed to confirmation bias, and societal costs including measles outbreaks.
Scientists created a global geologic and tectonic map of asteroid Vesta, revealing a history of large impacts from massive meteorites. The oldest surviving crust predates the largest impact event, the Veneneia impact, which occurred around 2.1 billion years ago.
Researchers identify jarosite minerals in Ius Chasma canyon wall, suggesting atmospheric sulfur trapped in ice formed glaciers. The discovery provides evidence of past glaciation in the Valles Marineris on Mars.
Researchers studied astronauts' movements in low gravity and found that they could maintain higher speeds while walking on the moon. The team used NASA's DC-9 aircraft to simulate lunar gravity and tested the speed at which walkers transitioned from a walk to a run, discovering an average speed of 1.4m/s, exceeding previous estimates.
A Swedish study found that the full moon affects sleep patterns, with subjects averaging 20 minutes less sleep and more trouble falling asleep during this phase. However, other research has yielded mixed results, with some studies showing no correlation between lunar phases and human sleep.
Despite popular beliefs, a recent Max Planck Institute study of 1,265 volunteers found no correlation between human sleep and lunar phases. The researchers discovered conflicting results may be due to publication bias, which can lead to omitted negative findings.
Astrophysicists at Penn State University have solved the Lunar Farside Highlands Problem, a long-standing mystery about the absence of maria on the far side of the moon. The researchers found that the difference in crustal thickness between the near and far sides is due to the moon's original formation process.
Researchers have found elevated levels of oxygen-17 in lunar samples compared to Earth, providing evidence for a giant impact hypothesis. The findings suggest that the Moon formed from debris left over after a massive collision between two proto-planets.
Researchers analyzed angler catch records for evidence of a lunar cycle's effect on muskie behavior. They found that muskellunge are caught consistently more around the full and new moon phases, with anglers catching 5% more fish during peak lunar days.
New analysis of Moon rocks indicates regional variations in water content, providing insights into lunar formation and crust cooling processes. The study suggests that the Moon's water may have originated from both Earth and comets/asteroids, with implications for understanding the source of Earth's water.
A team of MIT researchers has successfully demonstrated a broadband wireless connection to the moon using a laser-based communication system, transmitting data at a rate of 622 megabits per second. The system, which uses multiple telescopes and amplification techniques to overcome atmospheric challenges, has the potential to enable lar...
Researchers found that apatite, a commonly used method for estimating lunar water content, may not be reliable due to its hydrogen-rich crystals forming from cooling magma. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the moon's formation and evolution.
NASA has released an interactive mosaic of the lunar north pole, created from 10,581 high-resolution images taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The mosaic provides detailed textures and subtle shading of the lunar terrain, making it a valuable resource for scientists and the public.
This article covers various geology topics including Mars exploration, environmental lead poisoning, earthquake hazards, the Indus Civilization collapse due to aridification event, end-Cretaceous mass extinction analysis using clumped isotope paleothermometry, and geological events such as the Tibetan Plateau's reorganization.
The LLCD mission demonstrated error-free communications during broad daylight, operating as well as any NASA radio system. It also showed that wind and atmospheric turbulence did not significantly impact the system, enabling reliable communications through thin clouds.
The HyperSpectral Imager for Climate Science (HySICS) has made its inaugural engineering balloon flight, collecting radiance data for nearly half of its eight and a half hour flight. This technology advance enables climate predictions and trends to be seen with higher accuracy using shorter duration data sets.
LLCD successfully transmitted data from lunar orbit to Earth at a rate of 622 Mbps, more than six times faster than previous radio systems flown to the moon. The demonstration validated laser communication technology for future space missions.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) has updated the coordinates of historic robotic spacecraft on the Moon, providing valuable information for planning future lunar missions. These updates will aid in the creation of an accurate lunar cartographic network, essential for human and robotic exploration.
The LLCD experiment aims to validate and build confidence in laser communications, allowing for 3-D High Definition video transmissions in deep space. The technology has incredible application possibilities, enabling the transmission of hundreds of millions of bits of data per second from the moon to Earth.
The TESS mission will map the locations of over 500 transiting exoplanets, including small planets around bright stars. This is the first time NASA has studied a large number of small planets with advanced instruments.