Lunar Plain Not Impact Crater

The latest analysis of the Oceanus Procellarum, the large, dark plain on the near side of the Moon, shows it is rimmed by structures that form straight lines and angles, implying formation due to tectonic activity and not as the result of an impact.

Dark Side of the Moon Mystery

Astrophysicists have solved the Lunar Farside Highlands Problem, the question dating from 1959 as to why the far side of the Moon has no maria like the near side, the explanation being that the Moon was tidally locked with Earth's orbit soon after its formation resulting in a temperature gradient and thicker crust on the side facing away from Earth.

Moon and Earth Water Source

New analysis of the hydrogen-deuterium ratios in samples brought back on the Apollo missions shows the residual water left in the lunar soil is of an identical origin to that found on Earth, implying water was already present on Earth at the formation of the Moon 4.5 billion years ago.

Helium in Moon's Atmosphere

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected helium in the thin atmosphere of the Moon, with scientists uncertain if the helium originates from the surface itself via radioactive decay or is captured from external sources such as the solar wind.

Nanoparticles in Moon Dust

Researchers using a synchrotron-based nano tomograph have discovered glassy nanoparticles -- some no larger than individual molecules -- mixed in with lunar soil samples that explain many strange properties observed in lunar soil contrary to conventional soil behavior.

Earth as Sole Origin of Moon

Comparative analysis of titanium isotopes in Earth, meteorites and lunar samples from material brought back by the Apollo missions indicates Earth as the sole originator of the Moon some 4.5 billion years ago, conflicting with the popular theory that the Moon was the result of a collision with a third body.

Moon Being Pulled Apart

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has found small valleys called graben on the Moon's surface caused by the crust stretching and breaking along these faults, with this activity considered still active as it is estimated to have occurred less than 50 million years ago.

Interior of the Moon

A new study using data from Apollo-era seismic equipment and rock samples returned from those missions has determined the deepest parts of the lunar mantle to be up to 30% molten yet the absence of active volcanoes on the surface is prevented as this lunar magma is too dense to rise to the surface.

Hundreds of Earth Moons

New calculations show that hundreds of captured asteroids may be orbiting Earth at distances five to ten times greater than the orbit of the Moon, all too small and dim to be detected by typical NASA sky surveys

Frankenstein's "Shining Moon"

An astronomer's calculations have confirmed Mary Shelley's account of her historical inspiration for writing the gothic horror novel Frankenstein, that of a "bright and shining moon" over Lake Geneva during a "waking dream" in June 1816.

Younger Moon

A new analysis of a Moon rock brought back by Apollo 16 astronauts in 1972 reveals the Moon's age to be 200 million years younger than previously calculated, suggesting the oldest crust on both Earth and Moon formed at about the same time.

Volcanoes on Far Side of Moon

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has found dormant rare silicate volcanoes on the far side of Earth's Moon, different from the more common basaltic types previously seen and revealing a more complex geology on the Moon than previously known.

Electrified Full Moon

Data from a recent Japanese probe has found that when the Moon is full, it passes through Earth's magnetic "tail" formed by the magnetosphere and the solar wind, acquiring a strong electric field near the surface that could pose a hazard to future missions.

Moon Bulge Explained

The lunar far-side highlands, an area of elevated topography located on the far side of the Moon, has been explained using a mathematical model as the result of tidal forces early in its formation acting on a solid outer crust floating on an internal layer of magma.

Moon's Geologic Complexity

Data returned from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) shows a level of previously unseen compositional differences in the lunar crust from high-resolution infrared maps, revealing a more complex geological makeup than ever believed.

Moon May Be Shrinking

New research has identified 14 landforms on the Moon's surface called lobate scarps that are evidence of recent thrust faulting, indicating the Moon may still be geologically active and slowly contracting as its interior cools over several billion years.

Three Flavors of Moon Water

Combining data from NASA's LCROSS and India's Chandrayaan-1 lunar probes, scientists have identified three distinct types of water composition that exist on the Moon: nearly pure water ice, ice containing various chemical compounds in solution, and an ice-soil mixture.

Moon's Original Crust

Views of a crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin, the result of an asteroid impact within a 1500-mile crater created by a previous massive asteroid impact, reveal the Moon's exposed lower crust untouched by later volcanic activity and provide a glimpse of the Moon's geologic history.

Water Found on Moon

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission that smashed into the Moon's surface about a month ago has revealed evidence of water in the lunar soil—and a significant amount of water instead of just the trace that was expected.

Probe Crashes on Moon

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) smashed a bus-sized spacecraft into a crater near the Moon's south pole in a planned experiment to examine the debris for traces of subsurface water.