SOFIA discovers water on the Moon
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has provided the first direct and unambiguous evidence of water molecules on the Moon outside the permanent shadow at the lunar poles. “The amount of water discovered by SOFIA is roughly equivalent to the contents of a 300-millilitre can of drink, spread over the same surface area as a football pitch,” explains Alessandra Roy, SOFIA project scientist at the DLR Space Administration. “The Moon remains drier than deserts on Earth, but the quantity of water that has been discovered could still prove important for future crewed missions in space.” SOFIA will now observe the Moon’s sunlit surface during different lunar phases to investigate the water phenomenon in greater detail. The scientists hope that this will open up new insight into where water on the Moon comes from, how it is stored, and how it is distributed across the lunar surface. Data from SOFIA will complement the findings from future Moon missions.
SOFIA discovers water on the Moon
SOFIA discovers water on the Moon
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has provided the first direct and unambiguous evidence of water molecules on the Moon outside the permanent shadow at the lunar poles. “The amount of water discovered by SOFIA is roughly equivalent to the contents of a 300-millilitre can of drink, spread over the same surface area as a football pitch,” explains Alessandra Roy, SOFIA project scientist at the DLR Space Administration. “The Moon remains drier than deserts on Earth, but the quantity of water that has been discovered could still prove important for future crewed missions in space.” SOFIA will now observe the Moon’s sunlit surface during different lunar phases to investigate the water phenomenon in greater detail. The scientists hope that this will open up new insight into where water on the Moon comes from, how it is stored, and how it is distributed across the lunar surface. Data from SOFIA will complement the findings from future Moon missions.
Credit:
NASA/USRA
Duration:00:01:22