Does the moon have a solid or semi-liquid core in its interior? A new study reveals the moon's internal structure.
Nice - As our closest neighbor in space, the moon has always been a fascinating object of research for astronomers and space travelers. Despite the fact that man has already visited the moon, some of its mysteries remain unsolved to this day. A frequently discussed question in research is what the interior of the moon is actually like. In particular, it is a question of whether the Earth's satellite has a semi-molten core or whether there is also a solid core in its interior.
Researchers use methods to study the interior of the Moon that are also used to study the Earth's interior. One of these methods is the evaluation of seismic waves. As part of the manned "Apollo" missions of the US space agency Nasa, a seismometer was also placed on the moon, which was supposed to provide data on the nature of the moon's interior. These data suggest that the moon's core may be partially liquid. However, the data are not precise enough to draw precise conclusions about the nature of the lunar core.
The Moon – One celestial body, many facets
The Moon – One celestial body, many facets
What is inside the moon? Study provides insight
In a recent study published in the journal Nature, a research team led by astronomer Arthur Briaud of the Université Côte d'Azur used data from space missions and geophysical measurements to learn more about the moon's interior. The research group has developed various computer models of the lunar core to find out which scenario best fits the data used. "Our results (...) prove the existence of an inner core," the research group writes in its study.
The results show that the Moon not only has a solid inner core, but also has a similar structure to the Earth. The outer layer in the interior of the moon is semi-liquid and has a radius of about 362 kilometers. Within this layer is the solid inner core, which has a radius of about 258 kilometers and has a density of about 7822 kilograms per cubic meter - which is approximately equivalent to the density of iron. The outer, semi-liquid core, on the other hand, has a lower density of about 5025 kilograms per cubic meter.
New study reveals internal structure of the moon
These new findings give research a better understanding of the Moon's internal structure and may also help expand knowledge of other celestial bodies in the universe. "The existence of a solid inner core is crucial for understanding the mechanism that leads to the appearance of a planetary magnetic field or not," the study said.
+The Moon is Earth's closest neighbour – and still holds many secrets.
© IMAGO/Nicolas Economou
By studying lunar rocks, researchers already know that the moon had a strong magnetic field about four billion years ago, which disappeared about 3.2 billion years ago. In order to explain the formation of this magnetic field, researchers are investigating the movements in the core of the celestial body. With the latest findings on the nature of the moon's core, they will be able to find out why the moon's magnetic field has disappeared in the future.
This article, written by the editors, used machine support. The article was carefully reviewed by editor Tanja Banner before publication
Category list image: © IMAGO/Nicolas Economou