Darkness surrounds illuminated peaks between Shackleton crater (rim crest at right) and de Gerlache crater (out of scene left). As lunar days and seaons progress, darkness creeps along this elevated ridge near the south pole. Image width 15 kilometers, NAC M1195011983LR [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
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A little humor in the title but serious science - the Moon is shrinking due to heat loss as is explained in this article.
The findings are based on the study of 12,000 photographs taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) - the spacecraft that continues to rewrite what we know about the Moon - showing new wrinkle features in the northern part of the Moon known as Mare Frigoris.
Scientists have discovered these wrinkle ridges in a region of the Moon called Mare Frigoris. These ridges add to evidence that the Moon has an actively changing surface. This image was taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). NASA/GSFC
The Taurus-Littrow valley is the location of the Apollo 17 landing site (asterisk). Cutting across the valley, just above the landing site, is the Lee-Lincoln fault scarp. Movement on the fault was the likely source of numerous moonquakes that triggered events in the valley. 1) Large landslides on of slopes of South Massif draped relatively bright rocks and dust (regolith) on and over the Lee-Lincoln scarp. 2) Boulders rolled down the slopes of North Massif leaving tracks or narrow troughs in the regolith on the slopes of North Massif. 3) Landslides on southeastern slopes of the Sculptured Hills.
Credits: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University/Smithsonian
The more we learn about the Moon the more amazing a place it becomes.
This research will be epic because these samples were preserved by NASA nearly 50 years ago with the express intent of waiting for the development of new techniques and instruments to learn new things about the Moon. That time has come later this year.
We know alot about the Moon from prior studies of the Apollo lunar samples but we are learning more with new methods and instruments. But to study PRISTINE, sealed and frozen samples with these methods - well, it is like a whole new mission to the Moon. We are going to learn so much I do believe.
I will have more on this exciting story as it develops.
