Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) of NASA has discovered water on the surface of the moon for the first time.
The discovery confirms that water is distributed all over the surface of the moon and it is not confined to one place.
Although NASA previously had observed some form of hydrogen on the Moon’s surface, it was unable to differentiate between water and hydroxyl, its close chemical relative.
According to details, SOFIA has located water molecules in Clavius Crater. Located in the Moon’s southern hemisphere, Clavius Crater is one of the biggest craters that are visible from Earth.
The amount of water discovered on the moon is between 100 to 412 parts per million– roughly equal to a 350-milliliter bottle of water– that is trapped in a cubic meter of soil.
To put it into perspective, the Sahara desert has 100 times more water than what is discovered on the Moon’s sunlit surface.
The first way suggests that micrometeorites raining down on the lunar surface, carrying small amounts of water, could have deposited the water in the Clavius Crater upon impact.
The second way consists of a two-step process in which Sun’s solar wind delivered hydrogen to the lunar surface and caused a chemical reaction with oxygen-bearing minerals in the soil to create hydroxyl. The radiation from the bombardment of micrometeorites might have transformed that hydroxyl into water.
“We had indications that H2O – the familiar water we know – might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon. Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration.”
Director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Paul Hertz
However, these missions were unable to distinguish between water and hydroxyl.
With SOFIA definitively confirming the presence of water on the Moon, it remains to be seen whether or not this water is easily accessible for use as a resource.
The discovery confirms that water is distributed all over the surface of the moon and it is not confined to one place.
Although NASA previously had observed some form of hydrogen on the Moon’s surface, it was unable to differentiate between water and hydroxyl, its close chemical relative.
According to details, SOFIA has located water molecules in Clavius Crater. Located in the Moon’s southern hemisphere, Clavius Crater is one of the biggest craters that are visible from Earth.
The amount of water discovered on the moon is between 100 to 412 parts per million– roughly equal to a 350-milliliter bottle of water– that is trapped in a cubic meter of soil.
To put it into perspective, the Sahara desert has 100 times more water than what is discovered on the Moon’s sunlit surface.
The first way suggests that micrometeorites raining down on the lunar surface, carrying small amounts of water, could have deposited the water in the Clavius Crater upon impact.
The second way consists of a two-step process in which Sun’s solar wind delivered hydrogen to the lunar surface and caused a chemical reaction with oxygen-bearing minerals in the soil to create hydroxyl. The radiation from the bombardment of micrometeorites might have transformed that hydroxyl into water.
“We had indications that H2O – the familiar water we know – might be present on the sunlit side of the Moon. Now we know it is there. This discovery challenges our understanding of the lunar surface and raises intriguing questions about resources relevant for deep space exploration.”
Director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Paul Hertz
With SOFIA definitively confirming the presence of water on the Moon, it remains to be seen whether or not this water is easily accessible for use as a resource.
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