Scientists have unearthed a startling revelation of an unprecedented form of seismic activity on the lunar surface that may be triggered by a spacecraft left by American astronauts. This was made possible through an in-depth analysis using advanced algorithms to dissect Apollo-era data.
The moon undergoes massive temperature fluctuations causing both natural and human-made structures to expand and contract. This in turn, could be causing small tremors, known as moonquakes. In direct sunlight, the lunar surface can heat up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius), and in the darkness of space can drop to a bone-chilling minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius).
Applying artificial intelligence, experts dug deep into Apollo era’s data, unearthing mild vibrations emanating from an Apollo 17 lunar lander module, situated a few hundred yards from instruments registering these moonquakes. This thrilling discovery offers a fresh comprehension of the moon’s interaction with its environment and the range of elements that can influence its seismic activities.
These minute tremors are harmless, and most likely go unnoticed by humans on the lunar surface. Despite their subtle nature, understanding these moonquakes remains crucial, particularly as NASA and its associates work towards establishing a permanent structure on the moon under the Artemis lunar exploration program. This could help answer questions like “how robust do our buildings need to be, and what other hazards need addressing?” as speculated by Dr. Angela Marusiak, an assistant research professor at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and lunar seismology expert.
Every Apollo mission brought tools capable of moonquake detection. The Apollo 17 mission, launched in 1972, however, stood out for setting up a collection of seismometers geared towards detecting thermal moonquakes – tremors instigated by severe shifts in lunar surface temperature.
Researchers developed specialized algorithms tailored to accurately pinpoint the timing of wave arrivals, measure the strength of the seismic signal and locate the source of the moonquake. This insightful analysis led to the conclusion that the impulsive thermal moonquakes did not originate from natural causes but were instead tied to heat and cold cycles of the nearby spacecraft.
The moon, apart from thermal quakes, experiences deep and shallow tremors as well as activity linked to meteorite impact. Our lunar neighbor differs from Earth in that it doesn’t have shifting tectonic plates to cause catastrophic events. Nevertheless, the moon has a dynamic interior with the capacity for seismic occurrences at any given time or location.
Anticipation is growing around India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander mission, which features a seismometer that has already successfully detected a moonquake. Researchers expect to gather more data when they reawaken the spacecraft on September 22, as the Chandrayaan landing site reemerges into the sunlight.
Revisiting the troves of Apollo-era data with modern technology presents a thrilling prospect for scientists who believe that it could unearth more fascinating insights into lunar seismic activity. The moon presents itself as the only celestial body, apart from Earth, that has had more than one seismometer placed on it at a time, offering a unique opportunity to study another body thoroughly.
