Scientists have determined that the Moon possessed its own magnetic field two billion years ago. This conclusion was drawn from the analysis of lunar soil samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission from the Oceanus Procellarum. These samples, estimated to be about two billion years old, are younger than those retrieved by the Apollo missions. They exhibited residual magnetization, indicating the presence of a magnetic field in the Moon’s past.
The findings suggest that volcanic activity on the Moon persisted longer than previously thought. The magnetic field likely originated from a dynamo mechanism, where molten material in the Moon’s interior stirred to generate an electric current. Remarkably, even billions of years after its formation, the Moon may have retained enough internal activity to sustain a magnetosphere.
Researchers hypothesize that the Moon’s prolonged magnetism could have been driven by its rotation, internal cooling processes, or other mechanisms. While heating from the decay of radioactive elements was once considered, the Chang’e-5 samples revealed very low levels of such elements, making this hypothesis less likely.
The Moon’s magnetic field likely played a crucial role in shielding its surface from cosmic radiation. This protection could have helped preserve substances such as water ice in its polar regions. These discoveries deepen our understanding of the Moon’s history and its evolution over time.
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