Did you know that our Moon once had its own magnetic field? 🌙✨ Well, thanks to China’s Chang’e-5 mission, scientists have discovered that the Moon had a weak but long-lasting magnetic field about 2 billion years ago!
So, what’s a magnetic field? It’s like an invisible force field around a planet. Earth has a strong magnetic field that protects us from harmful space particles. It also makes compasses point north! 🧭
The Moon’s magnetic field was much weaker—less than 10% of Earth’s current strength. But even a weak magnetic field tells us a lot about what’s happening inside the Moon.
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences studied nine rock samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 spacecraft in 2020. These rocks, called basalts, formed from volcanic lava and are about 2 billion years old.
By examining these rocks, the researchers found tiny magnetic signals preserved inside. It’s like finding a message in a bottle from billions of years ago! 📝🌋
This discovery helps scientists understand that the Moon’s core was still active back then. An active core can create a dynamo effect, generating a magnetic field.
Understanding the Moon’s magnetic history helps us learn more about its internal structure and how it evolved over time. It also gives clues about volcanic activities and the Moon’s surface environment.
Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from moon rocks? 🚀🔬 Who knows what other secrets the Moon is hiding!
Reference(s):
Chang'e-5 samples reveal moon's weak but persistent magnetic field
cgtn.com
