Explanation:
Why is there water on the Moon?
Last month, the
LCROSS mission crashed a large
impactor into a
permanently shadowed crater near the
Moon's South Pole.
A plume of dust rose that was visible to
the satellite,
although hard to discern from Earth.
The plume is shown above in visible light.
Last week, the results of a preliminary chemical analysis gave a clear indication that the
dust plume contained water.
Such water is of importance not only for understanding the
history of the Moon,
but as a possible reservoir for future astronauts trying to
live on the Moon for long periods.
The source of the
lunar water
is now a topic of debate.
Possible origins include many small meteorites,
a comet, or primordial
moon soil.
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