Study: Water Sources on Moon More Widespread than Thought - September 27, 2024

A new study suggests sources of water on the moon are more widespread than previously thought.

The study was based on new examinations of data collected by India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft.

It launched in October 2008 and collected data while orbiting the moon for about a year.

Chandrayaan-1 has already provided evidence of water on the moon.

In September 2009, scientists published a study based on data from the Indian space mission.

The data showed the presence of molecules linked to water as well as the substance hydroxyl.

The American space agency NASA describes

hydroxyl, or OH, as a molecule made up of one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom with a free,

unpaired electron. It notes it is one of the most reactive gases in the atmosphere

and can help break down other gases in the air. The 2009 study suggested the water molecules

identified by Chandrayaan-1 data were mainly found in the moon's extreme northern and southern areas,

known as the poles.

Scientists said the data from that study showed most of the water

probably existed in large craters near the poles where sunlight is blocked.