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Moon contraction study reveals thousands of fracture edges
A new study published in The Planetary Science Journal reveals that the Moon is slowly contracting, a process that creates seismic risks for future lunar missions. Led by planetary scientist Thomas R. Watters, the research utilized high-resolution imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) to map approximately 8,900 fracture edges in the lunar highlands and over 2,600 small ridges in the dark mare plains.
These fracture edges, characterized by an asymmetrical profile with a steep front and a gentle slope, form when the lunar crust shifts during contraction. The study estimates the Moon's radius has decreased by approximately 45 meters (with calculations ranging between 42 and 46 meters). This shrinkage occurs at an extremely slow rate of roughly 6 to 11 centimeters per million years, or about 0.1 micrometers per year.
The findings present a scientific mystery, as classical thermal cooling models predict a much more significant contraction of between 750 meters and 1.1 kilometers. The researchers noted that the absence of older, heavily weathered fracture edges in the highlands contradicts theories suggesting a much longer period of contraction.
Entities
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera · Moon · The Planetary Science Journal · Thomas R. Watters
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 2,600 small ridges were mapped in the dark mare plains. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers mapped approximately 8,900 fracture edges in the lunar highlands. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Moon's radius has decreased by an estimated 45 meters. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The contraction rate is estimated at 6 to 11 centimeters per million years. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The contraction creates seismic risks for future lunar missions. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Classical thermal cooling models predict a contraction of 750 meters to 1.1 kilometers. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Moon is undergoing a slow contraction process. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The study used high-resolution images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de