[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Lunar contraction and geological activity

Overview

Research published in The Planetary Science Journal indicates that the Moon is undergoing a slow contraction as its interior cools. By analyzing data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists identified more than 10,000 young faults across the lunar surface.

This geological process has caused the Moon’s radius to decrease by approximately 45 meters over the last 400 to 800 million years, at an estimated rate of 6 to 11 centimeters per million years. These changes manifest as lobate scarps, which are cliff-like steps formed by thrust faults.

Unlike Earth’s multiple tectonic plates, the Moon possesses a single, rigid outer shell, meaning faults and resulting moonquakes can occur anywhere on the surface. These findings may influence the selection of stable locations for future lunar exploration and infrastructure, such as NASA’s planned lunar base missions between 2029 and 2032.

Entities

NASA · Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum · Moon · Thomas Watters

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    NASA study reveals Moon is shrinking due to interior cooling

    NASA research shows the Moon's radius has shrunk by about 45 meters due to interior cooling, identifying over 10,000 faults that could impact future lunar base infrastructure.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Moon contraction revealed by 10,000 young faults

    NASA imagery reveals over 10,000 young faults on the Moon, indicating the lunar radius has shrunk by about 45 meters due to interior cooling and contraction over several hundred million years.

Sources

canaltech.com.br · entreriosya.com.ar · freerepublic.com · knowridge.com · larazon.es · marca.com