Water In The Moon
Water In The Moon
This is not the first time water is detected in the moon, but why is this discovery of water in the moon now is of paramount importance?
NASA's SOFIA ( Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), a flying laboratory orbiting planet Earth just above the atmosphere, precisely stratosphere is the Boeing 747 modified telescope detcted presence of water in the moon.
This is not the first time water is detected in the moon, but why is this discovery of water in the moon now is of paramount importance?
Because, earlier water was found on the side of the moon, which is not exposed to sun light or planet Earth. And, water is possibly condensed or concentrated there. Typically, water gets vapourizred on exposure to sunlight or heat. The fact that water is present in the sunlit hemisphere of the moon suggests that water is not concentrated but distributed across the surface of the moon.
As we are aware water is one of the prerequisites for life to exist and flourish. Astronomers look for exoplanets (planets orbiting a star outside of the solar system) with the presence of water because the presence of water signifies that life can be either created or built. Moreover, water is the criterion for colonizing a planet.
Oxygen and hydrogen are among the primary requirements for fuelling space vehicles. The widely distributed presence of water (hydrogen and oxygen make water) signifies that moon can become a base for refuelling space vehicles for space missions beyond moon, into the solar system and possibly for interstellar and intergalactic expeditions. Of course, the lunar base will be the very first step. And, the presence of water in the moon will help in making it happen. Moreover, if a space ship from Earth to moon can carry less water, it can carry more of life support and scientific equipments. Because water can be replineshed in the lunar base(s).
Image Credit: Matija Jakicevic
How did water form in the moon?
Unlike planet Earth, our only natural satellite Moon is bombarded with asteroids and meteoriods. Astronomers and scientists discovered that asteoids and meteoroids are not only the leftovers of formation of our solar system, universe and the big bang but carriers of primordial elements. Sometimes elements that are needed to create life.
It is speculated that asteoids brought water to Earth. They not only cause extinction events (extinction of dinosaurs) but create life. Similarly, water could have been brought to moon by an asteroid or a meteroid. Another possible cause could be interaction of energy and chemical properties of our star, sun with those of the moon.
Where exactly in the sunlit surface of the moon, water is detected now?
The southern Hemisphere of the moon, which is visible to human naked eye in the night sky. Clavius Crater, one of the largest craters of the moon.
A permanent lunar base would be an important progress in humans becoming an interplanetary species.
Authored by Balaji Thangapandian aka #BT - a spacefarer, who is also curious about film-making, connectivity technologies and military history.
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