Lunar ice
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Astronomers and physicists believe they have found ice on the Moon, hidden in cold, dark craters just below the lunar surface. They cite as evidence the passage of neutrons indicative of the presence of hydrogen, a key component of water. [1]
Lunar observers have used proxy measurements of epithermal neutron fluxes to identify deposits enriched in hydrogen at both lunar poles close to permanently shaded areas (i.e., deep inside craters, where direct sunlight never falls). [2]
On October 19th, 2006, scientists published the results of extensive radar mapping of the lunar south pole, and found absolutely no evidence of lunar ice, nor hydrogen. It is their belief that the Clementine data from the mid-1990s was misinterpreted. [3] Conversely, Neutron Spectrometry scans from the Lunar Prospector probe have detected hydrogen, which my be a more accurate indication of possible hydrodgen or cometary ice on the Moon.
[edit] External links
- Ice on the Moon - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Fluxes of Fast and Epithermal Neutrons from Lunar Prospector: Evidence for Water Ice at the Lunar Poles
- [4] - Spacedaily report of the 2006 findings.
