Recent research indicates that the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are around 3.4 billion years old at most, with the possibility of containing relatively young water ice deposits. This discovery holds significant implications for future lunar exploration and resource utilization.
A fresh study, led by Dr. Raluca Rufu of the Southwest Research Institute, challenges earlier estimates regarding the age of the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions.
The team, employing advanced tools such as AstroGeo22 and LOLA height measurements, determined that the majority of these PSRs are, at most, 3.4 billion years old. Moreover, they may house water ice deposits that are younger than previously believed.
Water resources are pivotal for the sustainable exploration of the Moon and beyond. However, these findings suggest that prior assessments of ice content in these frigid areas may have been overly optimistic.
Lunar Shadows and the Enigma of Ice
The Moon’s current axial tilt, combined with its orbital inclination and the Sun’s shallow angle, results in perpetual shadows at its poles. These PSRs represent some of the coldest locales in the solar system, making them capable of preserving volatile substances, including water ice, which would otherwise swiftly transition from solid to gas in the harsh lunar sunlight experienced in most other regions.
The scientists leveraged AstroGeo22, a novel simulation tool for Earth-Moon evolution, to calculate the Moon’s axial tilt throughout its history. By combining this with surface height data from the Lunar Orbital Altimeter Laser (LOLA), they reconstructed the evolution of the shadowed regions over time.
According to Rufu, “The time evolution of the Moon-Earth distance remained an unsolved problem for half a century. However, these new geological indicators for the Earth-Moon system’s history enable us to determine the Moon’s axial tilt and the development of PSRs over time.”
In 2009, NASA executed a mission where the Atlas-Centaur rocket body from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) was intentionally crashed near the Moon’s south pole. This impact in the Cabeus crater produced a plume of debris that was scrutinized for the presence of water and other substances in the lunar regolith. Various instruments, including the Hubble Space Telescope, monitored this event.
Recent Revelations and Prospects for Exploration
Rufu’s team suggests that Cabeus crater transformed into a PSR less than a billion years ago. The detection of various volatile substances in the plume generated by LCROSS implies that ice trapping persisted into relatively recent times.
Norbert Schörghofer, the lead author of the study from the Planetary Science Institute, emphasizes that impacts and outgassing, although potential sources of water, occurred primarily in the early history of the Moon, before the existence of present-day PSRs. The age of PSRs is a critical factor in determining the quantity of water ice that might be sequestered in the Moon’s polar regions. This knowledge is of utmost importance in planning forthcoming lunar missions, both crewed and uncrewed, aimed at locating and exploiting these valuable water resources.
Water ice found in PSRs can serve as a fundamental resource for producing breathable air and rocket fuel and sustaining human presence on the Moon. NASA and other organizations have ambitious plans to send rovers and astronauts to investigate and harness the water ice reservoirs within these permanently shadowed regions.
Reference: “Past extent of lunar permanently shadowed areas” by Norbert Schörghofer and Raluca Rufu, 13 September 2023, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh4302
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lunar Ice Age
Q: What is the significance of the Moon’s shadowed regions being younger than previously estimated?
A: The Moon’s shadowed regions being younger has crucial implications for future lunar exploration. It means that these areas may contain relatively young deposits of water ice. Water is a vital resource for sustaining human presence on the Moon, and these findings suggest that there might be more accessible water ice than previously thought, making lunar missions more feasible.
Q: How did scientists determine the age of the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions?
A: Scientists used advanced tools like AstroGeo22 and LOLA height measurements to calculate the age of these regions. AstroGeo22 is a simulation tool that helped determine the Moon’s axial tilt over time, while LOLA provided surface height measurements, enabling scientists to reconstruct the history of these shadowed areas.
Q: What are permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) on the Moon?
A: Permanently shadowed regions are areas on the Moon’s poles where the current tilt of the Moon’s spin axis, combined with its orbital inclination and the Sun’s low angle, creates permanent shadows. These regions are incredibly cold and can trap volatile chemicals, including water ice, which would otherwise evaporate in the lunar sunlight.
Q: Why is water ice on the Moon important for future missions?
A: Water ice on the Moon is a valuable resource for several reasons. It can be used to create breathable air and rocket fuel, making future lunar missions more sustainable. Additionally, water can support human habitation and serve as a crucial asset for scientific research.
Q: What are the implications of these findings for upcoming lunar missions?
A: The discovery that lunar shadowed regions are younger than previously estimated suggests that there might be more accessible water ice on the Moon. This information is vital for planning upcoming lunar missions, both crewed and uncrewed, as it can influence the strategies for locating and utilizing these valuable water resources.
More about Lunar Ice Age
- Science Advances Article – The original research article titled “Past extent of lunar permanently shadowed areas” by Norbert Schörghofer and Raluca Rufu, published in Science Advances.
- Southwest Research Institute – The organization where Dr. Raluca Rufu, one of the authors of the study, is affiliated.
- Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) – Information about the NASA mission that intentionally crashed a rocket into the Moon to study lunar water resources.
- Planetary Science Institute – The organization where Norbert Schörghofer, the lead author of the study, is affiliated.
- Lunar Orbital Altimeter Laser (LOLA) – Details about the instrument used for surface height measurements on the Moon.
- NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio – A source for visual content related to NASA missions, including lunar exploration.
6 comments
Younger Moon ice, resource value ⬆️. Econ impact on lunar plans!
wow, so moon’s shadowed parts, they not that old, young ice too, cool info for moon adventures!
PSRs, coldest spots, traps ice. Water = life on Moon, exciting 4 missions!
Lunar secrets unlock, water ice key. Missions must adapt, new data.
Moon’s shadow regions, yngr than thot, may hav yng ice. Big 4 lunar xploration!
3.4 blln yrs, young ice! Moon exp wtr resrces, imprtnt news.