Lunar Magnetism Mystery "Still Unexplained" as Material Detected on Far Side of the Moon Stumps Scientists
- MIT researchers published a study explaining highly magnetic rocks on the Moon's far side linked to a massive asteroid impact billions of years ago.
- The impact, occurring about 3.7 to 3.9 billion years ago, generated a plasma cloud and seismic shockwave that amplified a weak ancient magnetic field on the Moon.
- Simulations show the plasma compressed magnetic field lines, boosting the field strength from around 1–2 microteslas to over 40 microteslas for about 40 minutes near the lunar south pole.
- Lead author Isaac Narrett described the magnetization process by comparing it to tossing a set of cards, each equipped with a compass needle, into a magnetic environment, illustrating how the magnetic orientation of the rocks was reset during the brief event.
- This hypothesis offers a testable explanation for lunar magnetism and suggests impact-generated plasma amplification may explain similar magnetic anomalies on other planetary bodies.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Lunar Magnetism Mystery "Still Unexplained" as Material Detected on Far Side of the Moon Stumps Scientists
MIT scientists searching for answers to the presence of highly magnetic material detected on the far side of the moon are unveiling new clues that could soon help solve the mystery. According to new research, the team believes a massive impact that struck the Moon’s Earth-facing side caused a plasma cloud in the atmosphere and associated shockwave, which magnetized several surface rocks on its far side. Directly sampling some highly magnetic moo…
Moon’s Strange Magnetism Finally Explained as Scientists Reveal Massive Ancient Impact That Altered Lunar History Forever - Sustainability Times
IN A NUTSHELL 🌕 Scientists at MIT discovered how ancient asteroid impacts amplified the moon’s weak magnetic field, explaining its magnetized rocks. 💥 The study suggests that a massive impact created a plasma cloud, temporarily boosting the moon’s magnetic strength, particularly on the far side. 🔍 This research sheds light on how even planets or [...] The post Moon’s Strange Magnetism Finally Explained as Scientists Reveal Massive Ancient Imp…
Why Are Some Rocks On The Moon Highly Magnetic?
Eddie Gonzales Jr. – MessageToEagle.com – Where did the moon’s magnetism go? Scientists have puzzled over this question for decades, ever since orbiting spacecraft picked up signs of a high magnetic field in lunar surface rocks. The moon itself has no inherent magnetism today. An image of the lunar far side.Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University Now, […]
Why Are Moon Rocks Magnetic When the Moon Isn't? MIT Solves Ancient Lunar Mystery
Have you ever wondered why astronauts brought back magnetic Moon rocks when the Moon itself has no magnetic field today? It's one of those cosmic puzzles that has kept planetary scientists scratching their heads for decades. But now, we've got a fascinating answer that involves plasma clouds, seismic waves, and a catastrophic asteroid impact that happened billions of years ago. Here at FreeAstroScience.com, where we make complex scientific princ…
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