A naukri.com initiative
Brighter Side of News
2M
41
Image Credit: Brighter Side of News
Researchers surprised to discover what’s inside the moon’s core
- Fifty years after the Apollo 11 lunar landing, researchers have found the Moon has a solid core akin to Earth's, shedding light on its composition and evolution.
- Published in Nature, the discovery clarifies the presence of iron-rich materials in the Moon's crust, vital for understanding its geological history.
- Studies have revealed the Moon features a solid inner core and a fluid outer core, aligning with theories that it possessed a magnetic field in the past.
- This breakthrough, confirming the Moon's solid core, concludes decades of speculation and showcases advancements in research.
- Identified 20 years ago, the Moon's fluid outer core now has a detected solid inner core of about 500 kilometers, constituting 15% of its total size.
- Evidence supports the theory of the Moon differentiating early in history, with heavy materials forming the core and lighter ones the crust.
- Researchers used lunar surface data and laser ranging techniques to ascertain the solid core's existence, aiding in understanding the Moon's evolution.
- Scientists also observed material movement in the mantle, explaining the presence of iron-rich elements on the lunar surface.
- These findings enhance our solar system's history comprehension and shed light on lunar magnetic field disappearance.
- The Earth and Moon differ in core size, composition, state, temperature, and magnetic field strength, reflecting their distinct evolutionary paths.
Read Full Article
2 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app