Water May Be Widespread On The Moon After All – New Research

25 February 2018

In craters near the south pole of the moon, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter found some bright areas and some very cold areas. In areas that are both bright and cold, water ice may be present on the surface as frost.
Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio

” data-medium-file=”https://i1.wp.com/www.microfinancemonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/frost-on-moon.jpg?fit=300%2C144″ data-large-file=”https://i1.wp.com/www.microfinancemonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/frost-on-moon.jpg?fit=620%2C298″ /> - Water on the moon is widespread across its surface and appears to be present at all times of the lunar day, according to a new analysis of two lunar missions.

The new evidence contradicts previous research suggesting water was confined to certain areas and depended on lunar days. “We find that it doesn’t matter what time of day or which latitude we look at, the signal indicating water always seems to be present,” said Joshua Bandfield, a senior research scientist with the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and lead author of a new study published in Nature Geoscience.

“The presence of water doesn’t appear to depend on the composition of the surface, and the water sticks around,” he added. It’s hoped the results will lead to a greater understanding of the origins of the moon’s water and offer insight into how it could be used as a resource.