A group of Chinese scientists have analyzed hypotheses as to whether the water on the moon is of terrestrial origin.
The study was published by a reputable publication Astrophysical Journal Letters.
According to one of the hypotheses considered by experts, water can appear directly on the satellite, and protons are to blame solar wind that reach the surface of the moon. On the surface of the Earth’s satellite, protons interact with oxides in the composition of minerals, forming new water molecules and constantly replenishing the supply of moisture, which evaporates into space.
The study authors took the data that was collected by the lunar probe Kaguya, and recorded changes in the flow of the solar wind “washing” the satellite. But then it turned out that there are no significant changes in the amount of ice on the prescribed days.
Another hypothesis is that the appearance of water on the Moon is associated with the effects of the solar wind. As known, Earth’s magnetosphere can direct protons and “shower” the lunar surface with the same number of particles as the solar wind. The stream consists of protons, oxygen ions from the upper layers of the earth’s atmosphere, and, as scientists suggest, this “earth’s wind” may be enough to form new water molecules on the moon.
Earlier we told that scientists were able to solve one of the most interesting mysteries of Mars.
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