Water in moon ejecta plume (Lcross report 22 Oct.)

In summary, scientists have discovered a small amount of water in the Lcross ejecta plume after crashing junk into a crater at the moon's south pole. The estimated amount of water is about 5% and it is mixed with ice grains in the soil. This discovery is significant because the crater is very cold, making it a suitable place for water to exist. Additionally, new data uncovered by NASA's LCROSS and LRO has revealed more than just water on the moon, including a discovery of mercury that was predicted by Dr. George W. Reed in 1999.
  • #1
marcus
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They actually did find some small amount of water in the Lcross ejecta plume.
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/330/6003/463

Science magazine 22 October. You remember they crashed junk into an everdark crater at the moon's south pole and studied the resulting cloud of debris.

The water is estimated to be roughly 5% more or less, ice grains mixed into the soil, so you might recover one gallon from a wheelbarrowload. It doesn't seem like a lot but it's probably significant.

The sunless southpole crater is very very cold, so it makes sense.

Here's the NYT article about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/science/space/22moon.html
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
I also found this quite interesting:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/21oct_lcross2/"

Oct. 21, 2010: Nearly a year after announcing the discovery of water molecules on the moon, scientists have revealed new data uncovered by NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO—and it's more than just water.
 
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  • #3
At our local astronomy club's September meeting, an LRO team member briefed us about all of this stuff. In particular the mercury discovery was very interesting. Interesting because it was predicted by Dr. George W. Reed back in 1999 in a paper titled, http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/11019305/840846986/name/1999M+PS___34__809R.pdf" An interesting read. The concentrations of mercury found were very close to the estimates Dr. Reed predicted in the paper.

An excellent SWAG, don't you think?
 
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What is the significance of the Lcross report on water in moon ejecta plume?

The Lcross (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) report on water in moon ejecta plume is significant because it provides evidence that there is water on the moon. This challenges the previous belief that the moon is a dry and desolate place.

How was the presence of water in moon ejecta plume detected?

The Lcross spacecraft purposely crashed into a permanently shadowed crater on the moon, causing a plume of debris to be ejected. The plume was then analyzed by instruments on board the spacecraft, which detected the presence of water molecules.

What does the presence of water in moon ejecta plume mean for future lunar missions?

The presence of water in moon ejecta plume opens up possibilities for future lunar missions. Water can be used for drinking, growing plants, and producing rocket fuel. This discovery also raises the question of whether there is a significant amount of water on the moon's surface, which could potentially support a permanent human presence on the moon.

How much water was found in the moon ejecta plume?

The Lcross report estimated that there is about 5.6% of water by mass in the moon ejecta plume. This is a relatively small amount compared to the water content on Earth, but it is still significant as it challenges previous beliefs about the moon's dryness.

What are the implications of the Lcross report on the origin of water on the moon?

The Lcross report suggests that the water on the moon may have originated from comets and meteorites that have impacted the moon's surface over time. This raises questions about the early formation of the moon and its potential as a source of water for other celestial bodies in the solar system.

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