According to a NASA research, some areas of the moon have “moderate” temperatures.
The discovery is significant in that it may open doors to thermally-stable locations for lunar exploration.
Growing concerns about low Earth orbit congestion and space junk, as well as increasing rivalry in space among major powers including the United States, Russia, and China, continue to dominate discussions of space policy. Earth’s leaders will decide the fate of space as they consider how to govern humanity’s newest frontier. Some initiatives, such as the US-led Artemis accords, which regulate behaviour on the Moon, are making progress. Regulation of military, civil, and commercial activities in Earth orbit may be the next step. However, until all major spacefaring states, including Russia and China, agree on standards of conduct in orbit and beyond, unilateral regulation of space policy will have little impact.
Scientists working with NASA have found that there are “comfortable” temperatures in some areas of the moon.
They discovered that in some lunar surface pits, temperatures are typically around 63 degrees Fahrenheit (or 17 degrees Celsius).
The finding could lead to thermally stable places for lunar exploration, which makes it significant.
The rest of the Moon has extreme temperatures. The Moon’s surface can reach 260 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, which is equivalent to 15 Earth days (about 127 C). Temperatures plunge to minus 280 F at night (about minus 173 C).
NASA’s Lunar Exploration Orbiter project scientist Noah Peterson called lunar pits a “fascinating characteristic” of the Moon’s surface.
The space agency quoted him as stating, “Knowing that they generate a stable thermal environment helps us paint a picture of these unique lunar features and the potential of one day studying them.”
Since its initial discovery in 2009, scientists have been investigating the potential for using lunar pits as shelters.
According to Tyler Horvath, who oversaw the new research, perhaps 16 of the more than 200 pits are likely defunct lava tubes.
The Mare Tranquillitatis, a depression that is 328 feet (100 metres) deep, was the focus of the current investigation. To assess the rock’s and the lunar dust’s thermal properties, they performed computer modelling.
According to their investigation, temperatures in areas of the pit that are entirely under shadow remained at 17 degrees Celsius with very minor changes.
