Lunar mystery: colossal structure found beneath the surface of the Moon intrigues scientists

A surprising finding has intrigued scientists and revived interest in lunar exploration. A huge structure hidden beneath the Moon’s rugged, cratered surface has been the subject of study since the first human steps on lunar soil.

Led by Peter B. James of Baylor University, the team of researchers analyzed data from the Grail mission, NASAand discovered a colossal structure buried beneath the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest preserved craters in the Solar System.

The mystery of the structure found

The magnitude of the discovery is impressive: the structure weighs around 2.18 billion kilograms and extends more than 300 kilometers deep.

To visualize this, simply imagine an amount of metal five times larger than the Big Island of Hawaii embedded in the lunar surface.

Scientists detected this mass by studying subtle changes in the Moon’s gravitational field, which allows them to investigate its internal composition.

Image: NASA/GSFC/DLR/ASU/Reproduction

The structure’s astronomical weight is so powerful that it sank the floor of the South Pole-Aitken Basin by nearly a kilometer, exerting considerable gravitational force given the crater’s impressive dimensions.

The research led scientists to propose two plausible explanations for the origin of this enormous mass. The first suggests that the metal from the asteroid that formed the crater remained embedded in the Moon’s mantle after the impact approximately 4 billion years ago.

The second hypothesis raises the possibility that the concentration of dense oxides formed as the Moon’s magma ocean cooled and solidified.

The South Pole-Aitken Basin has attracted great attention from space agencies for its unique characteristics. It offers a unique window into the Moon’s internal composition and geological history. Furthermore, it provides the ideal setting to study the consequences of catastrophic impacts on celestial bodies rocky.

However, the South Pole Basin is not the only lunar location hiding secrets beneath its surface. Recently, another immense, heat-emitting mass was discovered beneath the Compton and Belkovich craters on the far side of the Moon, adding more mysteries to the lunar enigma.

These discoveries have reignited interest in exploring the Moon, leading scientists to dive even deeper in search of information about our closest celestial neighbor.

As the enigma of the hidden structure beneath the lunar surface unravels, new revelations and fascinating knowledge about the Moon promise to be within humanity’s reach, fueling the spirit of exploration and curiosity about the Universe that surrounds us.

The findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters, and now, the eyes of the world are turned to the Moon in search of answers about its past and its nature mysterious.