Subscription Center
Feb 12, 2009 03:59 PM | 1
A new, high-resolution topographic map of the lunar surface indicates that the outer layers of the moon are likely bone dry. The new data, obtained from a laser-mapping instrument onboard the Japanese SELENE satellite, also known as Kaguya, shows that the moon's surface is rigid, not buoyant and flexible as would be expected if a significant amount of water flowed underneath it.
"The surface can tell us a lot about what's happening inside the moon, but until now mapping has been very limited," study co-author C. K. Shum, a professor of earth sciences at Ohio State University, said in a statement. "For instance, with this new high-resolution map, we can confirm that there is very little water on the Moon today, even deep in the interior. And we can use that information to think about water on other planets, including Mars."
Mars, Shum and his colleagues write, may have more interior water than the moon, as it is already known to have water ice on the surface and boasts an increasingly interesting hydrological history. But based on its surface composition and present lack of plate tectonics, the outer layers of the Red Planet are likely fairly parched as well.
The findings, along with a suite of other studies from Kaguya, were presented in this week's Science.
Photo: NASA
Tags:
lunar map,
geology,
moon water,
moon exploration,
JAXA,
geophysics
More News Blog:
Next: Will broadband investment in stimulus package work without tax credits?
Previous: Court nixes link between vaccines and autism
See what we're tweeting about
katewong @jmtsn Looks like spacing I saw at fancy nursery. I bought too many plants. Need to go back for another planter. This could be a $$$ hobby
DrJudyStone Surprised at our new #coyote in orchard. Haven't seen the bears yet. Ideas for peaceful coexistence? 6" fr downtown cc @kejames @johnrplatt
jmtsn @katewong that was more a function of having too few plants than knowing what I'm doing...
Deadline: Jun 30 2013
Reward: $1,000,000 USD
This is a Reduction-to-Practice Challenge that requires written documentation and&
Deadline: Jul 30 2013
Reward: $100,000 USD
The Seeker desires a method for producing pseudoephedrine products in such a way that it will be extremely difficult for clandestine che
Powered By: 
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.
1 Comments
Add CommentThe Moon is dry in the surface but not uder the soil is cover the surface.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this