Articles tagged with Earths Moon
Scientists discover evidence that Moon was born in a catastrophic collision with early Earth, releasing vaporized rock that condensed into the Moon. The discovery provides physical evidence for the Giant Impact Theory and sheds light on the Moon's composition.
A new study suggests that a massive planetary collision may have led to the evaporation of volatile elements on the moon, resulting in Earth's abundance of water. Researchers found severe depletion of zinc and other similar elements on the lunar samples, indicating a 'planetary-scale' evaporation event.
Astrophysicists at the University of New Hampshire have created PREDICCS, a near-real-time tool predicting space radiation hazards. The system integrates numerical models, real-time measurements, and 'propagation codes' to provide accurate projections out to Mars.
The European Space Agency (ESA) funded a study to test the shielding properties of Moon and Mars regolith against cosmic radiation. The GSI facility in Germany analyzed how well the stone slabs protect against radiation and produced neutrons when radiated.
A recent study published in Icarus proposes a new perspective on the Moon's formation, suggesting a 'hit-and-run' Giant Impact scenario that resolves the Lunar Paradox. The research explores alternative collision geometries and impact velocities, which could provide a solution to the paradox and shed light on the Moon's origins.
Archaeologists have uncovered a unique structure with paintings and hundreds of scrawled numbers at the ancient Maya site of Xultún in Guatemala. The discovery includes calculations relating to the Maya calendar, stretching over 7,000 years into the future.
Researchers have discovered a series of ancient rock layers containing impact debris from massive asteroids that struck Earth over 3.8-1.7 billion years ago. The findings suggest an intense period of asteroid bombardment, with some impacts rivaling those that created the largest craters on the Moon.
Researchers found it's unlikely materials can spread between Gliese 581's super-Earth and other planets due to high orbital velocities, making biologic exchange unique to our solar system.
Researchers found that the Moon's synchronous rotation with Earth is due to its geophysical properties, not a result of chance. The near side of the Moon resembles the Man in the Moon due to volcanic material, while the far side has higher mountainous regions.
A new study published in GSA BULLETIN suggests that linear dunes may have formed through erosion rather than deposition. The research found evidence of erosional origin similar to yardangs in China's Qaidam Basin, which could provide insights into the formation of linear dunes on other planets, such as Saturn's moon Titan.
Researchers have found a body of liquid water on Europa, similar to the North American Great Lakes, which could support life. The newly discovered lake is covered by floating ice shelves that facilitate nutrient and energy transfer between the surface and a vast ocean below.
NASA plans to demonstrate a new optical communications system that can transmit high-definition video and data at speeds of tens of gigabits per second. The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aims to revolutionize the Agency's communication capabilities, making it possible to stream video from distances beyond the Moon.
A team of scientists has re-dated a lunar rock sample from Apollo 16, concluding it is almost 100 million years younger than expected. The new age of 4.36 billion years suggests the Moon solidified later than previously thought, potentially making it much younger.
A new study using lead and neodymium isotopes in lunar rocks indicates the moon is approximately 4.36 billion years old, challenging the long-held estimate of 4.5 billion years old. This finding also has implications for the age of Earth, suggesting it may be younger than previously believed.
A team of scientists, including Carnegie's Richard Carlson, has estimated the age of a lunar rock sample at 4.36 billion years, significantly younger than earlier estimates of 4.568 billion years. This finding supports the idea that the oldest crusts on both Earth and Moon formed around the same time after a giant impact.
A new study suggests that a collision between the moon and a smaller companion moon could have formed the lunar farside highlands. The model proposes that the impact did not form a crater, but instead piled material onto one side, creating a mountainous region.
A University of Minnesota study found that full moons signal increased lion attacks on humans in Tanzania, with over two-thirds of attacks fatal. The research analyzed nearly 500 lion attacks between 1988 and 2009, revealing a clear pattern of increased danger after the full moon.
The LRO spacecraft captured a dramatic sunrise view of Tycho crater's central peak, revealing distinctive outcrops and boulders formed through impact melt. The young crater, only 110 million years old, has steep slopes that will erode over time, potentially creating smooth mountains.
The ARTEMIS P1 spacecraft has entered lunar orbit after a two-year journey that relied on gravity boosts and minimal fuel. Engineers closely monitor the spacecraft's position, preparing for further adjustments.
NASA has extended Phase E of the LROC contract with Arizona State University for approximately two years and $11,368,735. ASU will continue to operate and analyze LROC's science instruments.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have discovered that water on the moon may have originated from comets smashing into the moon soon after its formation. This finding suggests that the moon can act as a stepping stone for further space exploration, enabling missions to fuel up with liquid hydrogen and oxygen.
A total lunar eclipse will be visible to sky watchers across North America on December 21, coinciding with the winter solstice. The eclipse will last approximately three hours and twenty-eight minutes, with totality lasting seventy-two minutes.
A team of scientists found that the abundance of metal-loving elements in Earth's, Moon's, and Mars' mantles were delivered by massive impactors during the final phase of planet formation. The largest impactor on Earth may have modified its obliquity by approximately 10 degrees.
A team of astronomers used the Moon to search for ultra-high-energy neutrinos from distant regions of space. They reported their findings in the December edition of the journal Astroparticle Physics, setting a new upper limit on the amount of such particles arriving from space.
A new study led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz reveals that the lunar farside highlands' elevated topography may be attributed to tidal forces acting early in the moon's history. The shape of the bulge can be described by a simple mathematical function, accounting for about one-fourth of the moon's shape.
A team of K-state researchers is conducting a three-year study funded by a $1.2 million NASA grant to understand the impact of microgravity on human physiology. They aim to develop simple tests that astronauts can use in space to assess their physical conditioning and determine if they have the capacity to perform lunar tasks.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera has detected 14 previously unknown lobate scarps on the moon, indicating recent contraction of the lunar interior. The newly discovered scarps show a globally distributed distribution and are estimated to have formed about 100 meters in the recent past.
Scientists have found a much higher water content in the Moon's interior, with concentrations ranging from 64 parts per billion to 5 parts per million. The research suggests that water was preserved from the hot magma present when the Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago.
Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute suggest that differences in cometary impacts and melting patterns explain Ganymede and Callisto's distinct surfaces. The study reveals that Ganymede received more intense impacts, leading to deeper melting and a heavier core.
The WUSTL-led MoonRise mission is one of three finalists for a $650 million NASA space science venture. The mission aims to retrieve two pounds of lunar rocks and return them to Earth, providing new insights into the early history of the Earth-Moon system.
Researchers found that Titan's ice is stronger as temperature decreases, allowing it to form an Earth-like landscape. The study used laboratory measurements to understand the impact of cold temperatures on ice erosion.
A team of international scientists captured a snapshot of Earth's chemical signature using a lunar eclipse, providing crucial information for identifying potentially habitable planets. The observation, published in Nature magazine, offers a unique opportunity to study planetary atmospheres and compositions.
A new method uses celestial geometry and data on the sun, Earth, and moon's optical properties to create picture-perfect images of lunar eclipses. The tool can be used to study historical atmospheric phenomena and add a special effect to artistic representations.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study suggests that an asteroid attack nearly 4 billion years ago may not have extinguished potential early life on Earth, but instead gave it a boost. The research indicates that microbes could have survived in subsurface habitats and flourished during the Late Heavy Bombardment.
A three-year study shows that the reflection of light from the Earth's oceans and continents can be seen on the dark side of the moon, known as earthshine. The brightness varies with the Earth's rotation, highlighting the difference between intense ocean reflections and dimmer land reflections.
A team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been selected by NASA to focus on expanding knowledge of the Moon's formation and bombardment history. The four-year project will unravel the origin of the Earth-Moon system and the early evolution of the solar system through a multidisciplinary approach.
Researchers found that passage graves in Denmark are oriented towards the full moon and lunar eclipses, hinting at an ancient astronomical calendar. The study suggests that the Stone Age people may have used these alignments for ritual practices and predicting lunar eclipses.
Scientists from NASA, CDC, and University of Alabama are using public health projects that utilize NASA satellite data on air quality, climate, vegetation, and flooding to explore possible linkages with diseases like lung disease, stroke rates, and asthma.
Researchers mapped large arc-shaped depressions on Jupiter's moon Europa, indicating a shift of 80° in its rotational axis. The findings suggest the presence of an internal liquid ocean, which could support life, and provide independent evidence for this possibility.
The Naval Research Laboratory will design a lunar telescope, the Dark Ages Lunar Interferometer (DALI), to study the last unexplored epoch in the Universe's history. The telescope aims to detect signals from hydrogen atoms in the Dark Ages, which can provide insights into the first stars, galaxies, and modern Universe.
Researchers found that Mars' surface remained molten for 100 million years, implying a thick atmosphere to insulate the planet and slow cooling. This persistence is surprisingly long, with implications for the planet's early history.
The Scarab robot is equipped with a drill and features a novel rocker-arm suspension that enables it to plant its belly on the ground for drilling operations. The robot will demonstrate technologies for finding concentrations of hydrogen, water, and other volatile chemicals on the moon.
A MU physicist argues that the Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) technique is not effective in measuring the gravitomagnetic field. The LLR method relies on processing data with two sets of mathematical equations, but it can introduce errors due to gauge freedom and insufficient analytic control.
The film showcases various phenomena like hurricanes, satellite data collection, and ocean temperature changes. It also features special presentations about Earth's moon and Mars, offering an immersive experience of space exploration.
An international team of astronomers has identified the dimmest stars in globular star cluster NGC 6397 using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery provides clues to the age of the Universe and the formation time of one of its earliest generations of stars.
MESSENGER successfully tested its main camera by snapping distant approach shots of Earth and the Moon. The images show bands of clouds between North and South America on Earth's sunlit side, providing valuable data for planetary exploration.
The CRaTER instrument will measure high-energy charged particles in deep space to develop equipment and materials for human safety in the lunar environment. Scientists at Boston University are leading the development of the instrument with NASA funding.
A new method enables engineers to design more efficient heating, cooling, and other systems for spacecraft in space, on the moon, and Mars. The system uses a two-phase fluid behavior that can transfer heat effectively, making it compact and lightweight.
The University of Houston's Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center has developed 15 new technologies, published over 450 scientific papers, and received $80 million in research funding. Researchers have also spun off two companies, one producing infrared lasers and the other commercializing a new type of electric wire.
Researchers analyzed lunar cratering data and found a sudden increase in impacts about 400 million years ago. This period corresponds to the rapid evolution of life on Earth during the Cambrian explosion.
Astronomers have observed a significant increase in Triton's surface temperature, causing its thin atmosphere to thicken, and potentially leading to global warming. The moon is approaching an unusually warm summer season, with temperatures rising by 5% over the past nine years.
The discovery of glowing hydrogen gas on Io, a moon of Jupiter, was made using the Hubble Space Telescope. The findings indicate that hydrogen may be concentrated at the poles in the form of hydrogen sulfide frost, which could be broken up into constituent hydrogen and sulfur atoms with glow.
The CU instrument package will study Saturn's spectacular ring system, moons and atmospheric gases. It will analyze the atmosphere of Titan, a moon with conditions similar to early Earth.
A team of researchers estimated that the moon formed in a year or less after a massive collision between Earth and a rogue 'protoplanet'. The study, published in Nature, suggests that only about half of the debris from the collision coalesced into the moon, with the rest falling back to Earth.
A recent meteorite study has provided insights into Mars' formation by analyzing volatile elements in Martian meteorites. The findings indicate that the planet experienced at least two fractionation events, which allowed all elements to remain and record past events.
Researchers outline requirements for habitable moons, including stable orbit and atmosphere retention. Moons in the right position and size could support life on planets like Jupiter's Europa.
Researchers analyzed sediment layers deposited by tides to study the moon's retreat from Earth. The study found that a day on Earth was approximately 18 hours long 900 million years ago, with the moon moving away at a constant rate. The analysis also revealed changes in tidal patterns over time.