All articles tagged with #lunar history
Apollo astronauts discovered tiny orange glass beads on the Moon, which are ancient volcanic glass formed billions of years ago during eruptions. Recent technological advances have allowed scientists to analyze these beads in detail, revealing insights into the Moon's volcanic past and interior conditions, highlighting its once-active geological history.
Scientists have analyzed tiny, ancient orange glass beads on the Moon, formed during volcanic eruptions over 3 billion years ago, revealing insights into the Moon's violent past and geological evolution through advanced microscopic techniques.
New research suggests the moon's South Pole-Aitken basin, previously thought to be oval, is actually round, indicating a deeper impact. This finding, based on data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, could provide insights into the moon's early history and has implications for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions. The circular shape implies more evenly distributed debris, potentially allowing astronauts to study deep lunar materials. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the basin's formation and could aid future lunar exploration.
Scientists have discovered evidence suggesting that the Moon's mantle underwent a dramatic overturn billions of years ago, causing its surface to become chemically asymmetrical. This overturn, which occurred around 4.22 billion years ago, is believed to have resulted in the concentration of dense minerals like ilmenite on the near side of the Moon, leading to distinct gravitational anomalies. The findings, based on geodynamic models and gravity data from NASA's GRAIL mission, shed light on a defining event in the early history of the Moon and have been published in Nature Geoscience.
As the Moon prepares for a "supermoon" event in August 2023, explore the enduring fascination with Earth's only natural satellite. From attempts to map the lunar surface to legal battles over owning pieces of the Moon, the Moon has captivated humans for centuries. Discover the various names given to the Moon, the only sculpture and burial on the Moon, and the women astronomers who have contributed to lunar research. Additionally, learn about the Apollo astronauts' unique way of providing life insurance for their families.