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Moon's Magnetic Field Had Super-Spikes!
26 Feb
Summary
- Moon's magnetic field spiked incredibly strong for short periods.
- Titanium-rich rocks indicate brief, intense magnetic activity.
- Future Artemis missions will explore new lunar regions for clues.
Scientists have re-examined lunar rocks collected by Apollo astronauts, revealing that the moon's magnetic field experienced extremely brief but powerful surges. While generally weak, the moon's magnetism apparently intensified dramatically, even surpassing Earth's, during very short intervals between 3 billion and 4 billion years ago. These findings, published in Nature Geoscience, challenge prior assumptions about the moon's magnetic history.
The research indicates these intense magnetic periods lasted no more than 5,000 years, possibly even just decades. The spikes are attributed to the melting of deep, titanium-rich rocks within the moon. The study highlighted that rocks abundant in titanium, like those from Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions, showed preserved traces of this high magnetic activity.
Future lunar exploration with NASA's Artemis program is expected to build upon these discoveries. Unlike the Apollo missions which focused on specific lava plains, Artemis astronauts will explore new regions, such as the moon's south polar area. This broader sampling strategy aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the moon's ancient magnetism and its implications for planetary habitability.
