Researchers Unveil the Moon's Inner Composition.

In a recent study published in May, scientists have dispelled the age-old notion that the Moon's inner core resembles green cheese. Instead, their investigation reveals that the Moon's inner core is a solid sphere with a density akin to that of iron. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the Moon's history and the broader Solar System.

A team led by astronomer Arthur Briaud from the French National Centre for Scientific Research collected data from various space missions and lunar laser experiments to create a comprehensive profile of the Moon's properties. This data included factors such as gravitational deformation, distance variations from Earth, and density.

The team employed various core models to match the observational data. Notably, their models supported the idea of an active overturn process within the lunar mantle, where denser materials move towards the core, and less dense materials rise, providing an explanation for elements found in lunar volcanic regions.

Crucially, the study affirms that the Moon's core structure is similar to Earth's, comprising an outer fluid layer and a solid inner core. According to their modeling, the outer core has a radius of approximately 362 kilometers, while the inner core measures around 258 kilometers. The inner core's density closely resembles that of iron, at about 7,822 kilograms per cubic meter.

Interestingly, NASA researchers had previously arrived at similar conclusions in 2011 using seismological techniques on Apollo data, supporting the existence of a solid inner lunar core. This consensus strengthens the case for an Earth-like lunar core.

Understanding the Moon's core composition is essential because it sheds light on the decline of the Moon's magnetic field, which began roughly 3.2 billion years ago. The magnetic field's generation is closely linked to core motion and convection, making the Moon's core composition a crucial piece of this puzzle.

With humanity's plans to return to the Moon in the near future, seismic verification of these findings may not be far off, promising exciting discoveries about our celestial neighbor.