Articles tagged with Lunar Surface
Astronomers captured a meteorite hitting the moon's surface during January's total lunar eclipse, creating a crater up to 15 meters across. The impact was recorded using eight telescopes in Spain and revealed an object measuring 30-60cm in diameter, traveling at 61,000 kilometers per hour.
Scientists found evidence of water vapor in lunar exosphere after analyzing data from NASA's LADEE mission, which orbited the Moon from October 2013 to April 2014. The team detected dozens of events where meteoroids struck the Moon's surface, releasing a short-lived water vapor that could be used as a resource for future human explorat...
The study reveals that water molecules migrate over the course of a day, with higher concentrations at higher latitudes. This new understanding of lunar hydration has significant implications for future human missions to the Moon, where water could be used as a source of fuel or radiation shielding.
A study published in JETP Letters reveals that a meteoroid's collision with the Moon creates two dusty plasma clouds due to regolith fragments and molten material interacting with electrons. The clouds' characteristics, such as speed and size, can be observed separately, providing crucial insights for ensuring space flight safety.
A team of scientists has found direct evidence for surface-exposed water ice on the Moon, with patchy distribution and smaller abundance compared to other planetary bodies. The discovery was made using data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 mission.
Researchers Dirk Schulze-Makuch and Ian Crawford suggest two periods when Earth's Moon was habitable for simple lifeforms, including during its formation and a peak in volcanic activity around 3.5 billion years ago. Conditions were suitable for liquid water and an atmosphere to form on the lunar surface.
A Southwest Research Institute scientist contributed to a study indicating water and/or hydroxyl may be more prevalent on the Moon's surface than previously thought. The research used multiple instruments and investigations to better characterize the inferred measurements of water, suggesting it is present under wider ranging conditions.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience finds evidence of widespread and relatively immobile water on the Moon. The research suggests that the water may be present primarily as OH, a more reactive relative of H2O, which doesn't stay on its own for long.
A research team recreated the lunar surface's formation and found that the Moon's crust initially formed from rock floating to the surface of a magma ocean. However, secondary processes resurfaced the Moon, exposing a younger, purer layer of plagioclase crust.
A NASA team is studying a CubeSat mission concept called Mini Lunar Volatiles Mission (MiLUV) to detect water on the lunar surface. The mission will use a laser spectrometer to measure surface reflectance at several wavelengths and gather data on the distribution and possible mobility of volatiles.
Scientists from Brown University have created a quantitative map of water and its chemical building blocks trapped in the uppermost portion of the Moon's soil. The study found that the signature of water is present nearly everywhere on the lunar surface, with concentrations reaching up to 500-750 parts per million at higher latitudes.
A new study from the University of California San Diego suggests that the moon's interior is likely very dry, contradicting recent findings of wetness. The researchers analyzed fragments of the 'Rusty Rock,' a lunar rock collected during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972.
Researchers analyzed zinc, chlorine, and lead in 'Rusty Rock' to find volatile elements condensed during the moon's early formation. The findings suggest a depleted lunar interior with reduced volatile compounds, including water.
Scientists aim to understand how the moon got its 'tattoos' with a novel mission concept involving two connected CubeSats. The Bi-sat Observations of the Lunar Atmosphere above Swirls (BOLAS) mission could provide data on lunar hydrogen cycles and mechanisms for hydrogen implantation, shedding light on the formation of lunar swirls.
Scientists have discovered water in ancient volcanic deposits on the Moon's surface, finding that nearly all large pyroclastic deposits contain high amounts of trapped water. This bolsters the idea that the lunar mantle may be more water-rich than previously thought, with implications for future lunar exploration.
Astronomers from Cornell University and NASA have found evidence that Enceladus' axis has reoriented by about 55 degrees, suggesting an asteroid impact may have triggered the change. The moon's south pole is geologically young and active, while the north pole appears older and covered in craters.
Researchers found that the moon's uppermost surface materials are completely turned over in approximately 80,000 years, much faster than previously estimated. This discovery has significant implications for future human exploration and development of the Moon.
Physics students at Umeå University are developing an instrument to measure the electric field of the lunar surface, a first for the Moon. The project aims to provide more knowledge about the electric field, crucial for future missions to the Moon and other celestial bodies.
A rare full moon will occur on December's Full Cold Moon, marking the first time since 1977. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been studying the lunar surface since 2009 and is currently orbiting Earth's moon.
A giant mound near the Moon's south pole has been found to be a result of a unique volcanic activity triggered by a colossal impact. The Mafic Mound, standing 800 meters tall and 75 kilometers across, exhibits a different mineralogical composition than the surrounding rock.
Researchers using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images discovered thousands of faults on the lunar surface influenced by Earth's gravity, reshaping them. The moon is shrinking due to cooling interior, but tidal forces from Earth also play a role in forming and realigning these faults.
A CU-Boulder-led study has discovered a permanent, lopsided dust cloud enveloping the moon. The cloud is composed of tiny dust grains kicked up by high-speed interplanetary dust particles, and its density increases during annual events like the Geminid meteor showers.
Researchers at Brown University propose that comet collisions may have formed lunar swirls through the scouring of loose soil. Computer simulations suggest that impacts from cometary comas can produce bright streaks on the moon's surface.
Researchers used same-beam VLBI technology to monitor the Chang'E-3 rover's movement, measuring sensitivity of 50-100mm. The technique precisely tracked the rover's position relative to the lander and Earth.
Scientists have identified over 200 lunar pits, some of which may lead to caves that future astronauts can use for shelter. The pits, found using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, range in size from 5 meters to over 900 meters and are believed to form when the roof of a void or cave collapses.
A Georgia Tech study finds that ultraviolet photons emitted by the sun cause H2O molecules to desorb or break apart on the lunar surface. The presence of useful amounts of water on the sunward side is unlikely due to high probability of removal through UV light absorption.
The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) aboard LRO detected mercury and hydrogen in GRAIL impact plumes, which rapidly expanded into space at near-escape velocities. This is a first for LAMP and any previous instrument, as it measures the presence of native lunar atomic hydrogen gas.
A new study from the University of Tennessee confirms that solar wind is a source for water embedded in the lunar surface. The researchers found that most of the water in agglutinates comes from solar wind, making it a valuable resource with potential use as rocket fuel.
Researchers find hydroxyl compounds in lunar regolith created by solar wind implantation, leading to widespread water presence in lunar materials. The discovery suggests ice in permanently shadowed polar craters could contain hydrogen atoms from solar wind.
The probe dug a 12 cm deep hole before bouncing out onto a flat surface, sliding 30 cm across the surface due to friction. The probe wobbled back and forth five times before coming to rest, suggesting the surface was soft enough to make a hole but hard enough to support wobbling
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Narrow Angle Camera is acquiring high-resolution stereo images of the Moon to create 3D topographic maps. These anaglyphs reveal lunar features like craters and volcanic flows in 3D, making detailed surface information accessible to the public.
Two NASA visualizations have been selected for the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival: a lunar surface tour and an animation illustrating how the sun drives Earth's ocean currents. The festival highlights the best in computer graphics and technical research, with the chosen animations meeting strict guidelines.
The NASA visualization brings back the iconic 'Earthrise' photograph, taken by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968. The image captures the moon's surface and the Earth's vibrant colors, showcasing the planet's beauty and fragility. The recreation uses detailed maps gathered by LRO and was funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Two new NASA LRO videos reveal the moon's evolutionary history, exploring how it came to appear today. The 'Evolution of the Moon' video explains the moon's formation from a giant ball of magma and its subsequent impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
Scientists propose that the geologic activity occurred less than 50 million years ago, indicating a general state of global contraction. The graben systems found across the lunar surface suggest forces acting to pull it apart overrode contractional forces.
Computer simulations by NASA scientists predict that solar storms and Coronal Mass Ejections can significantly erase the lunar surface, removing a surprising large amount of material. This process, called sputtering, becomes dominant during CMEs due to increased density and velocity.
The mission has provided sharper views of the lunar surface, including the trails left by astronauts and the tracks laid down by the lunar rover. The higher resolution allows scientists to retrace the astronauts' steps with greater clarity to see where they took lunar samples.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will observe the total lunar eclipse on June 15, capturing detailed images and data on how different areas of the moon's day side cool off during the event. The Diviner instrument will record temperature changes in various regions, revealing information about the uppermost few millimeters of th...
Researchers create comprehensive maps of the moon's slopes and roughness, revealing insights into crater formation and volcanic activity. The study provides clues about the impact processes that shaped the moon's surface over billions of years.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's LAMP instrument has detected hydrogen, carbon monoxide, atomic mercury, calcium, and magnesium in the LCROSS impact plume, revealing volatile substances trapped near the Moon's poles. This finding is crucial for planning robotic and manned Moon bases.
The moon was bombarded by two distinct populations of asteroids or comets in its youth, resulting in a more complex surface than previously thought. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft provided unprecedented global topographic maps using the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), highlighting lunar craters with clarity.
Researchers have discovered previously unseen compositional differences in the moon's crustal highlands and confirmed the presence of material surprisingly abundant in silica. This has provided scientists with global, high-resolution infrared maps of the moon, enabling them to identify silicates commonly found within its crust.
LRO's instruments are providing groundbreaking data on the moon's geology, temperature, and radiation. The camera has mapped Apollo landing sites with high resolution, while the Diviner instrument discovered polar craters that can be brutally cold, trapping compounds like water and organic molecules.
The Moon absorbs electrically charged particles to produce water, confirming a key process on the lunar surface. The discovery enables scientists to create images of the Moon and other airless bodies using hydrogen atoms as tracers.
Scientists aim to detect hydrogen in lunar soil, which may be icy leftovers or accumulated from the solar wind. The LCROSS mission will create a debris cloud near the moon's south pole to observe its behavior.
Scientists have found evidence of water on the moon's surface using a NASA instrument, which detects wavelengths of light reflecting off the lunar soil. The discovery suggests that water may originate from an astronomical phenomenon called the solar wind, forming trace amounts in the lunar soil.
The Deep Impact spacecraft and Moon Mineralogy Mapper have found clear evidence of water on the lunar surface, which forms and dissipates each day. The data suggests that hydrogen ions from the sun interact with oxygen-rich minerals in lunar soil to produce water molecules.
Scientists at Brown University have found evidence of water molecules on the moon's surface, with up to 1,000 parts-per-million in lunar soil. This discovery could provide a mechanism for water to reach permanently shadowed craters, opening new avenues for lunar research.
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's LAMP instrument uses Lyman-alpha emissions to study permanently shadowed regions of the moon's surface. Researchers are searching for water frost and other resources in these areas, which could support future lunar missions.
A new study analyzes interactions on the Moon among electrostatic adhesive forces, sun's rays angle and lunar gravity to conclude stickiness changes with sun elevation. Forces compelling dust to cling to surfaces weaken as sun moves higher in sky, allowing lunar gravity to pull off.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has been awarded a $6 million grant from NASA to build the Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX), a high-tech lunar dust detector. The instrument will provide new information on lunar dust interactions with the moon's atmosphere and solar wind, as well as astronaut safety issues.
The University of Colorado at Boulder received two $11 million grants to study the lunar surface, atmosphere, and cosmos. The LUNAR team will conduct astronomical observations and investigate the early universe, while the CCLDAS project focuses on lunar dust and astronaut safety.
A new study suggests that water on the Moon's surface came from volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago, rather than vaporization during its formation. Researchers used advanced techniques to detect tiny amounts of water in lunar samples, revealing a significant amount of water in glass beads.
The UK Space Exploration Working Group recommends involvement in both human and robotic elements of space exploration to play a full role in the century's unique opportunities. The report stresses the need for a new vision, suggesting preparatory human space flight activities and maintaining UK's significant role in planetary science.
Researchers at Brown University have found evidence of recent volcanic gas release from the moon's surface, with features like the Ina structure dating back to two million years. The discovery suggests the moon is geologically active beyond its three billion-year history.
Scientists used high-resolution radar signals to create detailed images of the lunar south pole, finding abundant rocks but no evidence of ice sheets. The study suggests that any future lunar base should not rely on ice resources.
A recent study published in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta suggests a massive meteorite shower occurred on the Moon 3.8-4 billion years ago, potentially impacting Earth as well. The lunar rocks analyzed produced ages close to 3.9 billion years and exhibited different chemical fingerprints, indicating repeated bombardment by meteorites.
Lunar experts from the University of Arizona will testify about the benefits and challenges of an extended human presence for scientific exploration and mining. The hearing will focus on using water as a resource for propulsion, life support, and fueling return trips to Earth.
Researchers believe that lunar debris may hold fossils from Earth's early microbial life, with potential insights into the evolution of life on our planet. By studying this ancient material, scientists can gain a better understanding of the moon's role as a window into Earth's history.
Amateur astronomers reported brief changes on the Moon's surface, but their claims were never confirmed until now. A team of scientists has found evidence supporting these observations using satellite data from the Clementine mission.