Origins of lunar water unveiled

Understanding the origins of this water has puzzled scientists for years, but a recent study offers insights into the complex sources of lunar hydration

Hyderabad: The Moon, despite its arid appearance, contains water spread across its surface. Water molecules are found mixed in the soil, embedded in volcanic glass, trapped in mineral grains, and concentrated in tiny granules. Understanding the origins of this water has puzzled scientists for years, but a recent study offers insights into the complex sources of lunar hydration.

Water on the Moon was once thought to be non-existent. However, lunar missions and subsequent analyses have revealed its presence. In 2008, water was detected in soil samples from the Apollo missions, and by 2018, ice deposits were confirmed in permanently shadowed craters where temperatures plummet to around -245°C. In 2020, scientists also identified ice in sunlit regions. Although the Moon’s surface is 100 times drier than the Sahara Desert, it is wetter than previously believed.

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Two primary theories exist about the origin of lunar water. One suggests that comets—icy bodies traveling through space—delivered water to the Moon upon impact. Another posits that solar winds, rich in hydrogen, interacted with oxygen on the Moon’s surface to form water. To investigate, researchers analysed isotopic compositions in Apollo mission soil samples, heating them to various temperatures to study the isotopes within.

The analysis revealed oxygen isotopes matching those found in enstatite chondrites, meteorites thought to share the same material as Earth. Additionally, isotopes resembling those on comets were detected. These findings suggest lunar water likely originated from a combination of Earth-like materials and cometary matter. The study also casts doubt on the theory that solar wind significantly contributed to water formation on the Moon.

This research provides insights into the Moon’s formation and its connection to Earth, offering valuable knowledge for future lunar exploration and the potential for sustaining human presence on the Moon.