Lunar samples gathered by Apollo astronauts over 50 years ago are shedding new light on the moon’s enigmatic magnetic field, as per scientists’ recent findings. Further insights are anticipated from samples to be collected by upcoming moonwalkers in NASA’s Artemis program. The scheduled Artemis II mission, involving four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hansen, was delayed but is now set for takeoff in April from Kennedy Space Center.
A study conducted by University of Oxford researchers indicates that while the moon’s magnetic field was generally weak, it experienced sporadic periods of heightened magnetic activity surpassing Earth’s strength around three to four billion years ago. These revelations, detailed in the journal Nature Geoscience, suggest that the moon’s magnetic field had short-lived intense spikes attributed to the melting of titanium-rich rocks deep within its surface.
Lead author Claire Nichols highlighted that previous assumptions about the moon’s magnetic field strength were based on Apollo mission rock samples primarily from volcanic regions with high titanium content. The upcoming Artemis missions, focusing on the moon’s south polar area, are expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the moon’s ancient magnetic properties.
The research team emphasized the significance of studying the moon’s magnetic history in relation to planetary habitability, particularly with regards to shielding against cosmic radiation. The presence of water ice in shadowed craters near the moon’s south pole adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming exploration efforts.