Latest news with #lunar
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
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2 billion-year-old moon rock found in Africa reveals secret lunar history
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A meteorite that fell from the moon and was found in Africa is a rare volcanic rock dating from a time period in lunar history that scientists know little about. The 311-gram space rock was discovered in 2023 and is known as the Northwest Africa 16286 meteorite — and based on the decay of the lead isotopes that it contains, its formation has been dated to about 2.35 billion years ago. "Its age and composition show that volcanic activity continued on the moon throughout this timespan, and our analysis suggests an ongoing heat-generation process within the moon, potentially from radiogenic elements decaying and producing heat over a long period," said lead researcher Joshua Snape of the University of Manchester in a statement. The meteorite is an important piece in the jigsaw that is the moon's history, filling-in an almost billion-year-long gap in our knowledge. The meteorite is much younger than samples brought back to Earth by NASA's Apollo missions, the Soviet Union's Luna missions and China's Chang'e 6 mission, all of which range between 3.1 billion and 4.3 billion years old, but older than the 1.9-billion-year-old rocks returned by Chang'e 5. Crucially, meteorite 16286 has a volcanic origin, with geochemical analysis showing that it formed when a lava flow from deep within the moon vented onto the surface and solidified. It contains relatively large crystals of a mineral called olivine, moderate levels of titanium and high levels of potassium. Its lead isotopes also point to a volcanic source deep underground that has an unusually high uranium-to-lead ratio (the lead being a decay product of uranium). This abundance of uranium, and the heat it produced as it underwent radioactive decay, is a potential clue as to what was keeping volcanism going a billion years after the moon's main bouts of volcanism had ceased. There are only 31 volcanic lunar rocks that have been found on Earth in the form of meteorites, and meteorite 16286 is by far the youngest. "Moon rocks are rare, so it's interesting when we get something that stands out and looks different to everything else," said Snape. The meteorite is more evidence that volcanism continued throughout this period on the moon; Chang'e 5 has found such evidence in its samples from the moon's farside of volcanism in the past 123 million years. Together, these discoveries are transforming what we thought we thought we knew about the moon's volcanism and how the moon has remained geologically active, at least in bursts, almost to the present day. RELATED STORIES — Why is the moon's far side so weird? China's lunar sample-return mission may have figured it out — Volcanoes shaped the moon from the inside out, scientists find: 'Our team was genuinely puzzled' — NASA robot digs up simulated moon rocks | Space photo of the day for June 13, 2025 The next step is to pinpoint the meteorite's origin on the moon: likely a crater blasted into the surface by an impact that ejected the meteorite long ago. Once identified, it will be a prime location for a future sample-return mission to learn more about lunar volcanism during this little-known period, from which so few samples exist. Snape presented the findings at the world's premier geochemistry meeting, the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague held between July 6 and July 11. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
July 4-10 Sky Watch: Earth Reaches Max Distance From Sun, Mars Meets Regulus and Mercury Makes Rare Appearance
Okay, I simply can't start this week's sky guide without addressing yesterday's cosmic irony (which our Senior Editorial Writer Chris DeWeese brilliantly unpacked in yesterday's Morning Brief): Earth just reached aphelion — our farthest point from the sun all year! That's right — we're literally 94.5 million miles from our star during what's peak summer heat for half the world. Talk about counterintuitive! The real summer hero? That sassy 23.5-degree tilt our planet maintains. While we're distance-wise playing hard-to-get with the sun, the Northern Hemisphere is actually flirting shamelessly — tilted toward those solar rays, soaking up direct sunlight for longer days. So next time someone complains about the heat, you can smile knowingly and drop this little astronomical truth bomb. Now, on to the week ahead… Half shadowed, half illuminated — our moon at its most dramatically two-faced. This phase offers the perfect balance of brightness and shadow, making the lunar landscape pop in remarkable 3D detail along the terminator line (that's the wonderfully astro-geek term for where light meets dark on the lunar surface). When to Watch: Early evening until midnight Pro Tip: This is actually the best time to observe the moon with binoculars or a small telescope — the full moon might seem more impressive, but it's actually too bright and flat for good detail. The shadows along crater rims during first quarter are simply chef's kiss. The red planet moves exceptionally close to Leo's brightest star, creating a striking color contrast between Mars' reddish hue and Regulus' blue-white brilliance. When to Watch: Western sky after sunset Pro Tip: Easily visible to the naked eye; no equipment needed. Mercury is basically the celestial equivalent of that friend who always cancels plans — elusive and hard to pin down. But this week offers a rare opportunity as it reaches greatest western elongation (its maximum apparent distance from the sun). It's still a challenge, but if you've never spotted Mercury before, this is your moment. When to Watch: 45 minutes before sunrise, eastern horizon Pro Tip: Requires clear eastern horizon; binoculars helpful but not necessary. The waxing gibbous moon photobombs Mars on July 8, creating one of the week's most photographable moments. The contrast between the bright moon and the subtler red planet creates a composition that practically begs to be shared on your social media of choice. When to Watch: Early evening, western sky Pro Tip: This is a perfect smartphone photography opportunity. Use night mode and tap to focus on the moon. Saturn: Visible after midnight in Aquarius with well-tilted rings for telescope viewing When to Watch: After midnight until dawn, southern sky Venus: Continues as brilliant morning star in the eastern pre-dawn sky When to Watch: 1-2 hours before sunrise Milky Way Core: Rising in the southeast, best seen from dark-sky locations When to Watch: Late evening until dawn Pro Tip: Light pollution significantly reduces visibility; worth traveling to darker skies. Hercules Cluster (M13): Globular cluster high overhead Ring Nebula (M57): Planetary nebula in Lyra, visible with telescopes Beehive Cluster (M44): Open star cluster in Cancer, excellent for binoculars Weather Words: 'Aphelion' What Was That Fireball Over The Southeast US? Did Ancient Mars Have Rain, Snow?
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How to see the letters X and V on the moon tonight
The full moon is a glorious sight, and the sliver of a brand-new moon a wispy delight, but tonight's first-quarter moon has its own unique treat — for a few hours, you can make out the letters X and V on the lunar surface. Here's how. As the photo shows, the lunar X appears about a third of the way from the bottom of the moon, while the Lunar V is a little above the centre. Both features straddle the line between the light and dark sides of the moon, known as the terminator, with the X appearing a little into the dark side, and the V closer to the light side. They're not really there on the surface, and you can't see them at any other time. What you're looking at is called the 'clair-obscur' effect, in which the play of light and shadow on the surface creates the appearance of shapes; in this case, giant letters, formed by the partially lit edges of craters. According to British astronomer Mary McIntyre, the effect kicks off tonight at about 7:30 p.m. ET, and should last about four hours. That means by the time the sun has set and the moon is at its brightest, you should be able to get a good look, clouds permitting. Naked eye is a little tricky, since they are quite small. But decent binoculars (or better yet a small telescope) should bring them into focus. Humans have been looking at the moon since we were human, and through telescopes since they were invented, so it's not surprising that other transient shapes have been noticed and given evocative names, including the jewelled handle, Cassini's moon maiden, Plato's hook and the eyes of Clavius, not to mention the so-called 'man in the moon' that many people see in the full moon. McIntyre has a chart of when to look for them, while BBC's Sky at Night Magazine has a nice picture that shows their locations. The best part about all this is that if you miss them, they'll come back again every 28 days, forever. The European Space Agency just made Lego bricks out of moon dust China plans to wave its flag on the surface of the moon — literally Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
An enormous 'X' and 'V' will grace the moon's surface on July 2. Here's how to see them
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The nights surrounding the first quarter moon phase on July 2 present a good opportunity to spot colossal 'X' and 'V' features emblazoned on the lunar surface. This month's first quarter phase occurs at 11:41 p.m. EDT on July 2 (0341 GMT on July 3), at which time the right side of the half-lit lunar disk will be illuminated by direct sunlight from the perspective of viewers in the northern hemisphere on Earth. At this time, the sun shines at such an angle to make it appear as if there is a gigantic 'V' and 'X' marking the barren lunar surface. This kind of phenomenon is referred to as a 'clair-obscur' effect and occurs when the interplay between light and shadow leads to the chance formation of familiar shapes on the moon's craggy terrain. The lunar letters are visible for roughly four hours in the run-up to each first quarter moon phase and are at their most impressive when seen just on the 'night' side of the terminator, with their upper reaches kissed by the sun's light. Try and find the lunar 'X' and 'V' on the lunar disk at sunset on July 2 and be sure to keep checking back to see how these shapes evolve over time. If you miss the letters on the night side of the terminator, there's no need to lose hope, as they'll continue to be visible for a brief period after they pass to the 'day side' of the moon. The lunar X is an optical effect formed when sunlight strikes elevated rim sections of the Bianchini, Purbach and La Caille Craters around the first quarter moon phase, according to stargazing website The feature can be found around 25 degrees south of the lunar equator close to the terminator, which is the line separating the dayside and nightside of the moon, close to the prominent Werner and Aliacensis Craters. To find the lunar 'V', moongazers must follow the line of the terminator up to a point less than 10 degrees above the lunar equator to find the partially shadowed form of the Ukert Crater. Both objects can be spotted through a small backyard telescope with a 6-inch aperture, though a larger scope will help resolve detail in the myriad craters and broken terrain dotting the surrounding moonscapes. TOP TELESCOPE PICK Want to see the lunar X and V? The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 4SE review. Stargazers interested in exploring the lunar surface should check out our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars available in 2025. Photographers interested in capturing the moon's surface should also read our roundup of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography. This article was updated at 3:10 a.m. EDT (0810 GMT) on July 2 to change 'June 2' to the correct date of 'July 2'. Editor's Note: If you capture a picture of the letters on the moon and want to share it with readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
We finally figured out what's inside the Moon
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. For decades, scientists have debated what's beneath the Moon's dusty surface. Now, new research has delivered some of the clearest evidence yet of what's inside the Moon. Using data from lunar laser-ranging experiments and various space missions, a team of researchers built a detailed model of the Moon's internal makeup. Their findings point to a layered structure, with a molten outer core surrounding a solid inner core. This inner core appears to be as dense as iron, strongly suggesting that the Moon's center is a metallic ball rather than a liquid blob or fully solid sphere. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 This discovery helps resolve a long-standing scientific puzzle. Previous studies, including Apollo-era seismic data, hinted at a complex core, but the resolution wasn't clear enough to settle the debate. With this new research, though, scientists have a clearer picture of what's inside the moon, and it supports the idea that the Moon once had a dynamic interior capable of generating a magnetic field. That early magnetic field, which vanished around 3.2 billion years ago, may have been created by motion in the Moon's molten layers. The new findings also lend weight to the theory of 'mantle overturn,' where denser material inside the Moon sinks while lighter material rises. This could explain why some elements appear in volcanic regions on the surface. These results also validate earlier estimates made in 2011, offering a rare moment of scientific confirmation across independent studies. Both found similar core dimensions and density, pointing to a shared structure between Earth and its satellite. Knowing what's inside the Moon is vital for understanding how the Moon formed, evolved, and how it might behave in the future. With possible human missions planned to the Moon in the coming years, seismic instruments and advanced sensors could soon provide even more detailed measurements to support these findings. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
