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Lunar far side volcanic and magnetic discovery

Overview

Researchers have identified a massive, buried volcanic complex in the Moon’s Dewar region on its far side. The structure, which is approximately 60 kilometers wide and 9 kilometers deep, consists of solidified magma that exhibits high density and intense remnant magnetization.

Findings published in ‘Science Advances’ suggest that this discovery provides evidence of an ancient lunar magnetic field. Scientists estimate that approximately 4.2 billion years ago, the Moon may have possessed a magnetic dynamo with a strength reaching one-fifth to one-third of Earth’s current magnetic field.

The research team utilized a combination of gravity and magnetic field data from various lunar missions, including NASA’s GRAIL, the Japanese Kaguya probe, and the Lunar Prospector, to identify the magnetized body.

Entities

ETH Zurich · Anna Mittelholz · Dewar crater · NASA · Xi Yang

Timeline

  1. 1 day ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
    Researchers discover massive buried volcanic complex on Moon's far side

    Researchers have discovered a 60-kilometer-wide buried volcanic complex on the Moon's far side, suggesting the Moon had a strong magnetic field 4.2 billion years ago.

  2. 3 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    Lunar far side rock discovery suggests ancient magnetic field

    A study of a magnetized rock formation in the Moon's Dewar region suggests the Moon had an internal magnetic field approximately 4.2 billion years ago.

Sources

cnmo.com · fehmarn24.de · gizmodo.com · hna.de · knowridge.com · kurierverlag.de · leinetal24.de · mannheim24.de · media.inaf.it · merkur-online.de · newspaceeconomy.ca