Science

Shocking Discovery: One Side of the Moon Is a Scorching Hotspot!

2025-05-17

Author: Ting

Unearthed Secrets of the Moon's Mysterious Asymmetry

Prepare to be amazed! A groundbreaking study in Science Advances reveals that the Moon is not the symmetrical celestial body we once thought. Instead, the side that faces Earth is significantly warmer than its elusive far side. This revelation comes after meticulous data analysis from NASA's GRAIL mission, renowned for mapping the Moon's gravitational field with unparalleled detail.

How Gravitational Oddities Unraveled Lunar Mysteries

The GRAIL mission, which ran from 2011 to 2012, utilized two orbiting spacecraft to detect the slightest fluctuations in the Moon's gravitational pull. By observing how Earth’s gravity affected these spacecraft, scientists crafted a high-resolution map of the Moon’s gravitational landscape.

Lead researcher Ryan Park and his team from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered something astounding: the Moon's near side—always facing Earth—is a whopping 72% more deformable than if its interior were entirely symmetrical. This increased deformability hints at a warmer core beneath the near side, making it softer and more prone to stretching under tidal forces.

Implications of NASA's Revelations

What does this mean for our understanding of the Moon? This uneven temperature distribution aligns with known volcanic activity and the concentration of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium on the near side. Sean Solomon of Columbia University highlights how this asymmetry aligns with theories about the Moon's fiery volcanic history and the internal heating from radioactive decay.

But the questions don't stop there! How did the Moon develop such a starkly lopsided interior? One theory suggests that monumental impacts over billions of years may have caused thermal and structural upheaval, leading to this intriguing asymmetry.

Future Missions: Unlocking More Lunar Mysteries!

But that's not all! To dive even deeper into the Moon's secrets, NASA plans to deploy seismic instruments to its far side. The eagerly anticipated Farside Seismic Suite mission, set to launch in 2026, aims to measure moonquakes and provide direct insights into the Moon’s internal temperature and structure.

These seismic findings will complement GRAIL’s gravitational insights, ultimately enhancing our understanding of the Moon’s intriguing geology and the processes that govern not just our Moon, but other rocky bodies throughout the solar system. Buckle up—the Moon has many more secrets to reveal!