Large mass of granite unexpectedly detected on Moon
Using archival data from four lunar orbiters (two American and two Chinese), researchers have unexpectedly detected evidence suggesting the existence of a large 20-mile-wide mass of granite under a lunar volcanic caldera.
“We have discovered extra heat coming out of the ground at a location on the Moon believed to be a long dead volcano which last erupted over 3.5 billion years ago. It’s around 50km across, and the only solution that we can think of which produces that much heat is a large body of granite, a rock which forms when a magma body – the unerupted lava – below a volcano cools. Granite has high concentrations of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium compared to other rocks in the lunar crust, causing the heating we can sense at the lunar surface”.
Except for some small grains found in Apollo lunar samples, granite has not been found anywhere in the solar system except on Earth. This discovery, if confirmed, will strengthen the theory that the Moon was once part of the Earth and was created from the impact of a second large body.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Using archival data from four lunar orbiters (two American and two Chinese), researchers have unexpectedly detected evidence suggesting the existence of a large 20-mile-wide mass of granite under a lunar volcanic caldera.
“We have discovered extra heat coming out of the ground at a location on the Moon believed to be a long dead volcano which last erupted over 3.5 billion years ago. It’s around 50km across, and the only solution that we can think of which produces that much heat is a large body of granite, a rock which forms when a magma body – the unerupted lava – below a volcano cools. Granite has high concentrations of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium compared to other rocks in the lunar crust, causing the heating we can sense at the lunar surface”.
Except for some small grains found in Apollo lunar samples, granite has not been found anywhere in the solar system except on Earth. This discovery, if confirmed, will strengthen the theory that the Moon was once part of the Earth and was created from the impact of a second large body.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
This also means pitchblende.
“large 20-diameter mass” – typo?
David Eastman: 20-mile-wide is what it should have read. Thank you. Fixed.
“20-mile-wide”
But what is that in giraffes?
Giraffe-Sized Asteroid to Pass By Earth Safely on Thursday; NASA Spots Another Space Rock Approaching in September
https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/38572/20220706/giraffe-sized-asteroid-pass-earth-safely-thursday-nasa-spots-another.htm
After the Chy-nah balloon incident, I though we measured things in school busses not giraffes?
At least I’m sure about brawando. It’s got what plants crave.
Not the same thing as Australia’s sandstone Ayers Rock, but a buoyant inclusion or a fixed in place remnant?
The Universe seems to want us to remain curious.
Players, or just NPCs?
Giraffe sized? Can I get a banana for scale?
Lunar yellowcake next?
I am skeptical.
Reading the article, The evidence is a hotspot and they’re making up what could be the cause to fit what is being observed. Wild guessing.
I do agree with the premise of radioactive decay, impacts create intense pressure and heat which can form heavier elements. There is also the possibility of supernova remnants in the form of chunks that would be a prize find of unknown elements.
As for an old volcano, I don’t see it. In an airless world with low gravity, it should be pristine. Even so, I’m also guessing.
Theia explains so much about Earth being different than Venus
also suggests there’s probably no other life in our galaxy
if atmospheres near one bar with water oceans depend on colliding a rocky Goldilocks-zone planet with a Mars-sized icy outer planetoid at just the right parameters to create a large satellite and a spinning magnetic dynamo, we would expect them to be exceedingly rare
presumably some cosmic visitor in our early history perturbed an orbit, possibly the Uranus-flipper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theia_(planet)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant-impact_hypothesis
While looking at TallDave’s link, A map of thorium from “lunar prospector” shed some more light where radioactive elements are prevalent, especially in impact Craters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_the_Moon