lunar surface tagged posts

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a newly developed, compact X-ray telescope could be used to map the chemical composition of the entire lunar surface, a vital breakthrough for understanding its geological evolution. Detailed modeling of the detector and a realistic satellite mission show that two years would be enough to map five key elements, while an array of 5-by-5 detectors could improve resolution and get results faster.

The geological evolution of t...

Charles Lue holds a lunar globe showing the reflection of solar wind from magnetic fields of the lunar crust. The strongest reflection takes place in the areas marked in red on the lunar globe. Montage: photo Hans Huybrighs. Credit: Charles Lue

The solar wind is reflected from the surface and crustal magnetic fields of the moon which has effects on for instance lunar water levels. The Swedish space instrument SARA has measured a strong and varied interaction between the Moon and solar wind (continuous flow of plasma from the Sun which affects the planets and contributes to aurora on Earth). The lunar atmosphere, on the other hand, is too thin to show the same phenomenon and the Moon also lacks a global magnetic field to regulate the solar wind...