Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Solar Wind Leaves 'Sunburn' Scars on the Moon
Space.com ^ | Mar 4, 2019 | Samantha Mathewson

Posted on 03/04/2019 2:39:34 PM PST by ETL

People on Earth who've gotten sunburns are familiar with the sun's powerful rays — but the moon suffers from sunburn, too. 

Some regions of the lunar surface exhibit a distinctive pattern of darker and lighter swirls. Using NASA's ARTEMIS mission — which stands for Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun — astronomers have revealed new clues about the origin of these swirls. 

The sun releases a constant flow of charged particles known as solar wind into space. While Earth's natural magnetic field deflects solar-wind particles, the moon has a weaker magnetic field, leaving some areas of the lunar surface exposed to the sun's damaging radiation, according to a statement from NASA. 

Unlike Earth, the moon doesn't have a global magnetic field. Rather, magnetized rocks near the lunar surface create small, localized magnetic fields that extend only a short distance, according to the statement. 

"The magnetic fields in some regions [of the moon] are locally acting as this magnetic sunscreen," Andrew Poppe, a scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, said in the statement.

These small "bubbles" of protection deflect some of the damaging solar-wind particles. As a result, light-colored swirls form in the shielded areas. However, the bordering areas become noticeably darker. 

"You know, sometimes you put on sunscreen and you miss a tiny little bit and then you have a really bright red spot on you your skin where you missed it," Poppe said in a NASA video explaining the discovery.

"That's, in some ways, the analogy for the region of the moon that is extra exposed."

The team hopes the findings will help protect astronauts from the harmful effects of radiation during future missions to the moon. Although the moon's crustal magnetic fields may not be strong enough alone to protect astronauts, it may be possible to create a stronger magnetic field artificially, Poppe said in the video. 



TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: artemis; astronomy; elonmusk; falcon9; falconheavy; mars; moon; nasa; science; solarwind; spaceexploration; spacex; themoon
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

The Reiner Gamma lunar swirl photographed by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is an example
of the moon's "sunburn."
1 posted on 03/04/2019 2:39:34 PM PST by ETL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Ping.


2 posted on 03/04/2019 2:41:54 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Obviously another example of the heavy price the solar system is paying for America’s addiction to Capitalism.


3 posted on 03/04/2019 2:42:51 PM PST by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

4 posted on 03/04/2019 2:46:57 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ETL

“... it may be possible to create a stronger magnetic field artificially.”

When they mentioned magnetic rocks I thought “Just have the folks carry around a big magnet.”

But yes - a wound coil and iron could create a a very large magnetic “force field”. Would come in handy on Mars.


5 posted on 03/04/2019 2:47:35 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom
"Obviously another example of the heavy price the solar system is paying for America’s addiction to Capitalism."

Great sarcasm! :)

Seriously, any information like this that shows how awesomely unique our magnetic field is also shows how Earth was uniquely created, not some random accident like a thought process in AOC's brain.

6 posted on 03/04/2019 2:49:12 PM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Hmm - looking at that cartoon. It almost looks as if the moon (and planets with no magnetic field?) is a big battery - a rechargable solar battery.

A couple of big steel posts and 4,000 miles of wire ....


7 posted on 03/04/2019 2:50:04 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: 21twelve

I got that graphic from here.

https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/10apr_moondustinthewind

Not really sure how it’s related to the topic of the article.

In a hurry, I assumed it somehow was...


8 posted on 03/04/2019 2:52:34 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

Good point. I was thinking Climate Change.

I don’t quite know how man made Climate Change has adversely affected the Moon, but I’m sure if I ask a liberal idiot; they’ll tell me.


9 posted on 03/04/2019 2:52:52 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Do the ancient aliens living inside the moon know about this? /s


10 posted on 03/04/2019 2:54:39 PM PST by CatOwner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Related image
11 posted on 03/04/2019 2:55:14 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

lol


12 posted on 03/04/2019 2:55:30 PM PST by sit-rep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Tell It Right

13 posted on 03/04/2019 3:02:18 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ETL; 1FreeAmerican; A. Patriot; AndrewC; antonia; aristotleman; Bellflower; Boogieman; BraveMan; ...
what is pictured is not a sunburn but the track of the double-helix plasma of a Birkeland current winding its way across the lunar surface. —Electric/Plasma Universe PING!


On the trail of Birkland Current Paths in the
ELECTRIC/PLASMA UNIVERSE PING!

If you want on or off the Electric Universe/Plasma Ping List, Freepmail me.

14 posted on 03/04/2019 3:05:32 PM PST by Swordmaker (My pistol self-identifies as an iPad, so you must accept it in gun-free zones, you hoplaphobe bigot!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

15 posted on 03/04/2019 3:08:52 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ETL

Global Warming destroyed all the humans on the Moon!!! /Liberal rant


16 posted on 03/04/2019 3:14:20 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Steely Tom

[Obviously another example of the heavy price the solar system is paying for America’s addiction to Capitalism.]

Too many SUV’s driven and cheeseburgers eaten on the Moon.


17 posted on 03/04/2019 3:15:37 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SaveFerris
Moon farts.


18 posted on 03/04/2019 3:19:53 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ETL; dfwgator

I guess that explains this field of wild grass and wild flowers in the middle of the ice (poor quality)

https://youtu.be/Li2bIwFT-vM?t=34

She says “This shouldn’t be here” (in the original English version)


19 posted on 03/04/2019 3:31:44 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ETL

what are you, 12?


20 posted on 03/04/2019 3:35:09 PM PST by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson