Moon may be shrinking
August 20th, 2010 - 2:11 am ICT by IANSWashington, Aug 20 (DPA) The moon is smaller than it used to be and could still be shrinking, NASA scientists said Thursday pointing to new evidence that the moon has contracted relatively recently.
New high-resolution images have turned up geographical features on the moon that indicate it has shrunk within the last 800 million years - or practically yesterday in astronomical terms, said Tom Watters, a scientist at the Centre for Earth and Planetary Studies at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
The findings could indicate that as the moon has cooled since its formation it has contracted and could still be tectonically active today, Watters said.
The images come from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been mapping the moon since last summer as part of a two-pronged mission that also involved crashing a rocket into the moon’s surface.
- NASA's LRO shows 'moon may be shrinking' - Aug 20, 2010
- NASA's LRO releases final set of data from mission's exploration phase - Mar 16, 2011
- Moon map reveals titanium treasure trove - Oct 16, 2011
- Log onto www.moonzoo.org for a virtual walk on the moon - May 12, 2010
- NASA's Cassini spacecraft captures dramatic views of Saturn's 2nd largest moon - Dec 22, 2010
- NASA'S LRO completes exploration mission phase - Sep 16, 2010
- Astronauts' tracks and trash seen on moon - Sep 07, 2011
- Twin NASA probes reach lunar orbit - Jan 02, 2012
- 'Missing carbon' may explain reduced density of Mars' atmosphere - Mar 09, 2011
- Moon's surface more complex than previously thought - Sep 17, 2010
- Aliens may have left footprints on moon! - Dec 29, 2011
- Moon landings were not a hoax, confirms evidence from lunar orbiter - Sep 05, 2009
- NASA scientists discover fresh crater on Moon's surface - Aug 11, 2010
- Asteroid 2005 yu55 to pass close to Earth today - Nov 08, 2011
- NASA spacecraft to take images of Apollo landing sites - Aug 12, 2011
Tags: air and space, air and space museum, astronomical terms, earth, geographical features, high resolution images, lunar reconnaissance orbiter, million years, moon, nasa, nasa scientists, national air and space museum, new evidence, planetary studies, scientist, smithsonian, tom watters