NASA is uncovering new insights about the Sun by examining its interactions with the Moon. This novel approach reveals how solar winds and cosmic rays have influenced the lunar surface over time.
The Moon, with its surface exposed to the Sun’s solar wind and cosmic rays, serves as a valuable chronicle of solar activity. By studying the layers of regolith—loose, fragmented material on the lunar surface—scientists can decipher the history of solar wind fluxes. Each layer acts like a time capsule, preserving evidence of the Sun’s past behavior.
One method for gaining these insights involves collecting core tube samples from the Moon’s surface. These samples, particularly those trapped between lava flows, hold particles that document changes in solar wind over millennia. This detailed record aids researchers in understanding regolith stratigraphy (the study of rock layers) and offers clues about the Sun’s transformation over time.
This research not only sheds light on the ancient Sun but also provides broader implications for our understanding of solar system history. By analyzing such extraterrestrial records, scientists hope to piece together how the Sun’s activity evolved and what this means for planetary weathering processes in the solar system.
Furthermore, these findings bolster our knowledge of how solar and cosmic phenomena have shaped planetary bodies within our vicinity. The Moon serves as a natural archive, offering a clearer picture of space weathering effects due to its lack of atmosphere and geological activity, unlike Earth.
NASA’s innovative study of the Moon’s surface offers a unique perspective on solar history. Through meticulous research, scientists are piecing together the Sun’s evolutionary tale, enriching our grasp of both lunar and solar dynamics.
Source: Science.Nasa
