Scientists have long debated the nature of the moon's essence. Thanks to an in-depth study published in May 2023, we now know that The inner core of the Moon is a solid sphere Its density is similar to that of iron. This revelation confirms the structural similarity between the Moon and Earth.
The research team, led by astronomer Arthur Briaud from the French National Center for Scientific Research, used an innovative approach to reach this conclusion. By combining data from space missions and lunar laser ranging experiments, they created a detailed profile of the Moon's features, including:
- Deformation resulting from gravitational interaction with the Earth
- Differences in distance between the Moon and Earth
- The total density of our satellite
This information allowed researchers to model different configurations of the Moon's core and determine which ones best matched observations. The result? Multi-layered structure, similar to our planetwith a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
Dimensions and composition of the moon's core
The models revealed exciting details about the moon's internal structure. Here is an overview of the main findings:
| component | radius | size |
|---|---|---|
| The outer core | 362 km | About 21% of the Moon's radius |
| inner core | 258 km | About 15% of the Moon's radius |
The inner core has a notable density of 7822 kg/m3, Very close to iron. This discovery supports the results obtained by the NASA team led by Rene Weber in 2011, which estimated a radius of 240 km and a density of 8000 kg/m3 for the inner core of the Moon.
Implications for the history and evolution of the Moon
This confirmation of the Moon's internal structure has major implications for our understanding of its evolution. Lunar magnetic fieldwhich was once powerful, began to decline about 3.2 billion years ago. The composition of the core plays a crucial role in generating and maintaining this magnetic field.
The researchers also highlighted an interesting phenomenon: Active mixing within the moon's mantle. This process, where dense material moves down toward the center while less dense material moves upward, could explain the presence of certain elements in lunar volcanic regions.
This discovery is part of a broader perspective on the history of the solar system. Sheds new light on:
- Chronology of lunar bombardment during the first billion years of the solar system
- Evolution of the lunar magnetic field
- Internal differentiation processes of celestial bodies
With renewed interest in lunar exploration and plans to return humanity to the moon, these discoveries open the way for new investigations. Future missions could provide more accurate seismic data, allowing us to verify and improve our understanding of the internal structure of our magnificent natural satellite.
