Lunar swirls are mysterious, brightly colored, sinuous patterns on the moon’s surface that stretch for hundreds of miles.
These intriguing patterns, visible even in a backyard telescope, have long eluded a simple explanation, but recent studies have suggested that the spirals may be magnetized by invisible magma beneath the Moon’s surface.
New insights into lunar vortexes
Recent modeling and spacecraft data show that Rocks in the Moon Swirl It is magnetized, which deflects or redirects the solar wind particles that constantly bombard the moon. This redirection causes the surrounding rocks to turn dark due to chemical reactions caused by the collisions, but the spirals themselves remain light in color.
“Impacts can cause these types of magnetic anomalies, but for some of the whirlpools we just don’t know how the impact could have created an object of that shape or size,” explains Michael J. Krawczynski, an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The observations point to a more complex process behind the formation of the whirlpools, suggesting that surface collisions alone cannot explain their unique shapes and sizes.
Krawczynski and his team say that the lava underground is slowly cooling, magnetic field This material may be responsible for the magnetic anomalies observed in the spirals. Their experiments, published in the Geophysical Research Journal: Planetary, focused on the mineral ilmenite, which is abundant on the lunar surface.
They say that under lunar conditions, Ilmenite They may react to form magnetizable iron metal particles, which could explain the magnetization of the spirals. “The small particles we studied likely create a stronger magnetic field because they have a larger surface area to volume ratio compared to larger particles. The larger the exposed surface area, the more susceptible the small particles are to reduction reactions,” said Yuanyuan Liang, co-author of the study. The findings suggest that the size and distribution of mineral particles play an important role in the magnetization process.
Impact on lunar exploration
Identifying the origin Moon Swirl This is crucial for understanding the processes that formed the Moon’s surface and the history of the Moon’s magnetic field. Future missions, such as NASA’s Rainer Gamma Spirals rover mission scheduled for 2025, will help gather more data to confirm these findings. “If they create magnetic anomalies in the way we’ve described, the subsurface magma must have a lot of titanium in it,” Krawczynski said. “We’ve seen signs in lunar meteorites and Apollo lunar samples that this reaction produced iron metals.
However, all these samples are superficial. Lava flowAnd our study shows that subsurface cooling should greatly enhance these metal-forming reactions.” This insight could transform our understanding of lunar geology and the role of magnetic fields in shaping planetary surfaces.
This research will help interpret data from future lunar missions, especially those exploring magnetic anomalies. For now, Krawczynski emphasizes the need for more direct sampling: “If we could drill, we’d know if this reaction is happening. That would be great, but we can’t do that yet. Right now, we’re only probing the surface.” As technology improves, future missions may eventually have the ability to drill beneath the Moon’s surface, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of these enigmatic features.
The results of these studies are: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space agencies are preparing upcoming lunar missions that aim to uncover the mysteries of lunar vortexes and their effects. Lunar geological historyBy understanding the magnetization process and the role of subsurface magma, scientists hope to gain new insights into the Moon’s past and evolution. This research will not only shed light on lunar phenomena, but also improve our understanding of magnetic and geological processes on planets in the Solar System.