Something is moving inside of the Moon. Yes, you read that correctly.

  • machinin@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    16
    ·
    9 hours ago

    A recent study from scientists at NASA and the University of Arizona found that a layer of low-viscosity goo sits between the Moon’s rugged mantle and its metal core. This goo is rising and falling beneath the lunar surface — not unlike, say, ocean tides — which they concluded is likely caused by the gravitational push and pull of the Sun and Earth.

    I wonder if it has to be a partial melt. We are finding that many asteroids are loosely bundled rocks. I wonder if maybe the moon has a similar structure. I have no clue how much pressure is under the surface and off it’s enough to fuse everything together.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      4 hours ago

      Considering it’s at least semi-liquid, it’s definitely not just a loose clump of rocks. The moon is a lot bigger than asteroids, about 3500 km in diameter. Even the largest known asteroid is about 940 km in diameter. And every increase in diameter means a cubic increase in volume.

      • P1k1e@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 hour ago

        Today I learned the moons diameter is smaller than the length of the United States. What a day