10 Apollo mission samples indicate that 70% of the Moon's exosphere is caused by meteorite impacts.

New study in Science Advances provides evidence that meteorite impacts are responsible for at least 70% of the Moon's thin atmosphere, known as an exosphere. The exosphere consists of helium, argon, neon, ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, and sodium, potassium, and rubidium. Researchers analyzed 10 samples from the Apollo missions, focusing on potassium and rubidium, elements which vaporize easily. The findings suggest that vaporization from rock impacts is the main process responsible for sending atoms upward, replenishing the lunar atmosphere. This discovery sheds new light on the origins of the Moon's atmosphere and its continuous evolution.

August 02, 2024
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