Lunar Water and its origin - A mystery

The discovery of water molecules on the moon raised new questions about the origin of “LUNAR WATER?” Where did it come from? Where exactly was it reasonably found? And why only Polar Regions were typically showing the strongest signals?

Video credits: Veritasium

Earlier, there existed uncertainty about origin of this water. According to prominent scientists, there were three distinct possibilities. One possibility was that the water was promptly delivered by direct impact of rare meteorites or comets containing...water. Another intriguing possibility is that water naturally formed on the moon due to considerable impact of solar wind on the moon’s surface.

After all moon’s surface is made up of 43% oxygen, and solar wind contains hydrogen atoms. When these hydrogen atoms typically react with adequate oxygen trapped in moon rocks, water is formed. Another factor represent the cosmic rays. 

Water can be formed by the cosmic rays, which in common are the incredible high energy particles from deep space. But recent studies showed that the water was formed on the moon by the solar wind. 

If the water was accumulated by the water rich meteorites or comets, and there would have been the presence of deuterium in the water (Which wasn't found) as the, meteors and comets possess elevated level of deuterium. 

Further scientists confirmed the water was not formed by the cosmic rays either. Because if it was formed by the cosmic rays, they would have found lithium-6(An isotope of lithium generated by cosmic rays when they hit the moon) in the lunar dust brought by the Apollo 16 and 17 missions.

Video credits: NASA Goddard

These findings suggest that the lunar water was formed by the striking of solar wind (Continuous stream of high energy particles from the sun) on the lunar surface.

Because of the daily dehydration and re hydration on moon’s surface, the hydroxyl and hydrogen immigrated towards the colder region of the moon, which in common were the permanently shadowed craters in the north pole of the moon, which is where the water was discovered in the form of ice.Nicola Tesla once said,

‘The sun is the past; The earth is the present, The moon is the future.’

Indeed, the moon is the future of space exploration and space civilisation. We already have found water on moon which is an essential ingredient for life. Scientists are searching for ways for mining the moon for water so that they could establish colonies there.

In future, space science will advance more and contribute for solving deep secrets of universe and will continue to surprise us with its wonders. With India’s Chandrayan-2 being partially successful, the upcoming Chandrayan-3 mission will play a major role in revealing the significance of lunar water and its scientific characteristics.