Researchers from the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa, in collaboration with data from India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission, have made a fascinating discovery regarding the Moon's water formation process. By examining Earth's plasma sheet, a team of scientists found that high-energy electrons from our planet are influencing the Moon's surface, potentially contributing to the creation of water there.
This intriguing finding, reported in the journal Nature Astronomy, sheds light on the critical task of understanding the Moon's formation and evolution while also considering future human exploration and water resource provision. Moreover, it offers insights into the origins of previously detected water ice in the Moon's permanently shaded regions, PTI reported.
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Chandrayaan-1, India's lunar probe launched in 2008, played a pivotal role in unraveling the Moon's mysteries. While solar wind, consisting of high-energy particles like protons, has long been considered a key player in lunar water formation, this research delves deeper. It investigates how the Moon's surface reacts as it traverses through Earth's magnetotail—an area that offers partial protection against solar wind but not the Sun's photons.
Shuai Li, an assistant researcher at UH Manoa School of Ocean, emphasized the magnetotail's unique properties, stating, "This provides a natural laboratory for studying the formation processes of lunar surface water." Surprisingly, the study found that the water formation process within Earth's magnetotail closely resembles that outside of it, challenging previous assumptions.
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Li and fellow researchers utilized data collected by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument onboard Chandrayaan-1 between 2008 and 2009. Their analysis of changes in water formation while the Moon passed through Earth's magnetotail revealed intriguing insights. High-energy electrons, similar to solar wind protons, appeared to be influential in this process, suggesting an additional source of lunar water formation.
This revelation, coupled with previous research on rusty lunar poles, underscores the profound connection between Earth and its Moon, revealing previously unrecognized aspects of this cosmic relationship.
Chandrayaan-1, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2008, made groundbreaking contributions to lunar exploration. It paved the way for Chandrayaan-3, India's successful mission to land a rover and a lander near the Moon's enigmatic south pole, marking another significant milestone in lunar exploration.
