When a team of researchers noticed higher than normal heat emanating from a region on the far side of the Moon, scientific interest immediately peaked. This ” thermal anomaly ”, as they call it, is located in an area called the Compton-Belkovich volcanic complex, between two ordinary-looking craters. But beneath this apparently inert surface lies a secret: a gigantic mass of granite, approximately 50 kilometers in diameter, buried for billions of years.
Unusual heat, improbable granite
Matt Siegler, the study’s lead researcher, explains: “ We expected to find signs of ancient volcanism, but not this amount of granite. This material is rich in radioactive elements like uranium and thorium, which produce heat as they decay. As a result, the region is around 10°C warmer than its immediate surroundings. »
Granite is a bit like the marble found in lunar kitchens, but much rarer in space. On Earth, it is formed thanks to water and plate tectonics, two elements absent on the Moon. This discovery therefore pushes scientists to reconsider lunar geological mechanisms.
To measure this lunar heat, researchers used data from Chinese Chang’E 1 and 2 satellites, as well as American NASA orbiters. “ What is fascinating is that the recorded microwave emissions correspond exactly to a caldera, an ancient magma chamber, visible on the surface », specifies Siegler. Basically, it’s a bit as if the volcano, dormant for 3.5 billion years, was still letting out a little residual heat.
But it’s not just a story of geology. The discovery also highlights the richness of data provided by international space missions, even when collaborations are limited by political constraints. Matt Siegler also salutes the expertise of Jianqing Feng, a Chinese scientist who helped refine the analyses: “ China’s public databases have been a boon to our work. »
This hot zone, which appears to have a large block of granite hidden beneath the surface, raises many questions. How could such material have formed on the Moon? Why right there, in such an isolated region? If this discovery is unique for the moment, it could well be only the first in a long series. Researchers believe that other similar systems could be hidden beneath the lunar surface.
« This kind of study proves that even a calm surface can hide treasures. This also gives us avenues to explore other planets or moons in the solar system. », concludes Siegler. The Moon continues to surprise us, even after decades of missions and observations.
???? To not miss any news on the Journal du Geek, subscribe on Google News. And if you love us, we have a newsletter every morning.
