Recent photos from India’s Chandrayaan-1 reveal that the Moon indeed is rusting from its poles. The case proposes an interesting hypothesis of the possibility of life on the Moon.
According to a report by India TV, images captured by the Chandrayaan-1 reveal the presence of rusting on the Moon. The cause of the galactic activity is iron’s reaction with water and oxygen, both of which are required for humans to survive.
Reports find that even though the Moon lacks the atmosphere to support the presence of oxygen at its surface, it receives its amount of oxygen from the Earth’s traces that enters the lunar environment.
Minister of State for the Department of Space Dr. Jitendra Singh issued a statement explaining the phenomenon via Twitter: “The sign of this finding is that even though the surface of the Moon is known to have iron-rich rocks, it is not known for the presence of water and oxygen, which are the two elements needed to interact with iron to create rust.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDu-tZIQMt4
NASA’s view
The presence of hematite on the light giving astronomical body has puzzled scientists in NASA because the Moon is known that has an airless atmosphere. In contrast, hematite is a form of rust that requires oxygen and water.
There has been rust formation on Mars for a long time, this rustic formation gives Mars its red hue, but scientists were surprised to find traces of rust on the surface of the airless Moon.
Possible explanations of rusting
The first explanation goes down to the findings of Japan’s Kaguya orbiter in 2007. The results pointed to the Moon having tons of oxygen on its surface because of the magnetism from the Earth.
Earth’s magnetic field creates a trail behind the planet, remnants of oxygen from our planet travel on this trail to reach the surface of the Moon, hence creating reserves of oxygen on its surface.
The second explanation comes from the data of M3, which found more hematite on the surface facing Earth than the opposite surface. It explains that more of its oxygen supply was from a rift when the Moon and Earth were closer.
The next explanation considers the possibility of hydrogen being delivered by the solar wind. Hydrogen ideally acts as a reducer of rust, but Earth’s magnetic tail has a mediating effect.
Moreover, it blocks 99% of the solar wind during specific periods, especially during a full moon, which opens a window for the rusting to take place.
Even if there are specific facts and theories of rusting on the Moon, nothing is confirmed that life does exist there.
Image courtesy of muratart/Shutterstock