This is in the moon

One of the greatest mysteries about the moon is the structure of its interior: does the moon have a solid or a molten core? Scientists now want to have found clear evidence that there is a solid inner lunar core.

Seismological models from NASA’s “Apollo” missions have already provided the first data on the internal structure of the moon. These seismic waves are also used to investigate the Earth’s interior or, for example, to investigate earthquakes.

These seismic recordings from NASA initially indicated that the moon’s core might be partially liquid. However, the data was too imprecise to draw firm conclusions.

Astronomer Arthur Briaud and his team have now combined data from space missions and geophysical measurements to solve the lunar core question. The scientists published the study with their findings in the journal “Nature”. With their research they prove that there is a lunar core and they can also describe it in more detail.

The scientists write that the moon has a solid inner core with a radius of about 260 kilometers. The outer core, on the other hand, is semi-liquid and has a radius of about 360 kilometers.

“The existence of a solid inner core is crucial to understanding the mechanism that leads to the appearance of a planetary magnetic field or not,” the research group continues. The research results therefore provide “essential insights into the timeline of lunar bombardment in the solar system’s first billion years.” (t-online, sms)