The researchers of the University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa made a fascinating discovery in collaboration with data from Indias Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. The new findings suggest that the high-energy electrons from the Earth may be forming water on the Moon.The researchers examined the Earths plasma sheet and found that high-energy electrons from our planet are influencing the Moons surface, potentially contributing to the creation of water there.These captivating findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy, which provides crucial insights into the Moons evolution and formation, as well as potential resources for future human exploration. Moreover, it offers insights into the origins of previously detected water ice in the Moons permanently shaded regions, as per media reports.STORY | Chandrayaan-1 data suggests electrons from Earth forming water on MoonREAD: https://t.co/JHmjDk0qlB(PTI File Photo) pic.twitter.com/jIOpSg10hF— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 15, 2023Importance of Chandrayaan-1Chandrayaan-1 was launched in 2008 and played a very crucial role in the discovery of water molecules on the Moon.The solar wind, which is composed of high-energy particles such as protons, bombards the lunar surface and is thought to be one of the primary ways in which water has been formed on the Moon.This research delves deeper and tries to find ways in which these factors affect the Moons surface as it traverses through Earths magnetotail- an area that offers partial protection against solar wind but not the Suns photons.What do these new findings suggest The research led by Shuai Li, an assistant researcher at UH Manoa School of Ocean highlihted the magnetotails unique properties and said “This provides a natural laboratory for studying the formation processes of lunar surface water.”“When the Moon is outside of the magnetotail, the lunar surface is bombarded with solar wind. Inside the magnetotail, there are almost no solar wind protons and water formation was expected to drop to nearly zero,” Li further said.The Earths plasma sheet, a region within the magnetosphere filled with trapped charged particles, is known to contain high-energy electrons which are believed to play a significant role in weathering of the lunar surface.This weathering of the Moon by the impact of high energy ions was the main focus of the scientists earlier. Li and his colleagues however suggest that apart from this there might be additional processes or sources of water that affect the environment of the moon.“To my surprise, the remote sensing observations showed that the water formation in Earths magnetotail is almost identical to the time when the Moon was outside of the Earths magnetotail,” said Li.“This indicates that, in the magnetotail, there may be additional formation processes or new sources of water not directly associated with the implantation of solar wind protons. In particular, radiation by high energy electrons exhibits similar effects as the solar wind protons,” Li added.What lies aheadThese latest findings as well as well as Lis previous discovery of iron rusting in the Moons polar regions due to oxygen in Earths magnetotail show the the profound connection between Earth and its Moon, revealing previously unrecognized aspects of this cosmic relationship.According to media reports, Li Plans to take this research to the next level through NASAs Artemis programs, with the aim to monitor the plasma environment and water content on the lunar polar surface as the Moon traverses different phases of Earths magnetotail
