Moon’s Inner Core Revealed to be Solid and Dense, Providing New Insights into Our Solar System
Researchers have discovered that the inner core of the Moon is a solid ball with a density similar to that of iron, according to a report by Science Alert. The findings provide a more accurate understanding of the Moon and the solar system. The study, led by astronomer Arthur Briaud of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, shows that seismic data can effectively examine the inner composition of objects in the solar system. Acoustic waves generated by quakes move through and reflect from the material inside a planet or moon, enabling scientists to create a detailed map of the object’s interior.
The team collected data from space missions and lunar laser-ranging experiments to compile a profile of various lunar characteristics. They also conducted modeling with various core types to find which matched most closely with the observational data. The study shows that the lunar core is very similar to Earth’s, with an outer fluid layer and a solid inner core. The researchers found that the inner core has a radius of about 258 kilometres (160 miles) and a density of about 7,822 kilograms per cubic meter, which is very close to the density of iron.
The new findings open the door to a better understanding of the Moon’s evolution and our solar system’s history. Briaud and his colleagues suggested that their results question the evolution of the Moon’s magnetic field and support a global mantle overturn scenario, which sheds light on the timeline of lunar bombardment in the first billion years of the Solar System. The study’s discovery of active overturn deep inside the lunar mantle means that denser material inside the Moon falls towards the centre, and less dense material rises upwards. The research provides valuable insights into the composition of celestial objects and their internal processes.
