New research suggests that mysterious swirl patterns on the lunar surface may be linked to subsurface magma activity. The “lunar vortices“observed on the moon show a spiral pattern created by magnetized rocks that deflect or redirect the waves solar wind particles that constantly bombard the moon. Moon rocks that fall within the lunar vortices remain … Read more
On Earth, you can look up at night and see the moon shining from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But if you went to Venus, that wouldn’t be the case. Not every planet has a moon – so why do some planets have multiple moons while others have none? I am a physics teacher … Read more
If you look up on a clear night, the brightest and largest object in the sky will likely be the moon. And unless you have a decent telescope, it’s the only natural satellite you can see with your own eyes. As a result, most people have a distorted idea of what a moon is and … Read more
To understand the origins of this carbon, the Chinese research team said a study of young lunar samples – just 2 billion years old – could help them unravel “the crystalline structure of the native carbon” present on the moon. After analyzing the graphene found in the sample, the researchers concluded that the moon may … Read more
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question that you would like an expert to answer, please send it to Curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do some planets have moons and others don’t? – Siddharth, age 6, Texas On Earth, you can look up at night and see the moon shining … Read more
New simulations describing how moons, including Soil‘s own mohformed strongly implies that exomons are more likely to be found around rocky exoplanets. Our moon is thought to have that formed when a Mars-size planetesimal called Theia smashed into Earth, cutting a huge wound in our planet and melting its entire surface. It is believed that … Read more
On September 29, 2022, NASA’s Juno spacecraft made its closest flyby of Europa, coming within 355 kilometers of the frozen surface of Jupiter’s moon. The close-up view of Europa revealed incredible details of the moon’s chaotic terrain, suggesting the icy crust is not where it once was. The images also showed a newly discovered feature … Read more