A new global map of small mare ridges has revealed some exciting discoveries about the Moon’s tectonic activity. According to researchers, the lunar crust is still shrinking, and this activity is much more widespread and recent than previously thought. The map, which identified over 1,100 previously unknown ridges, provides valuable insights into the Moon’s geological history and could have implications for future lunar missions.
The Moon is often viewed as a dormant and lifeless celestial body, but recent studies have shown that it is still geologically active. The Moon’s tectonic activity is driven by the gradual cooling and shrinking of its interior, causing the crust to crack and form ridges. These ridges, known as thrust faults, are similar to the well-known lobate scarps found on the Moon’s surface.
The new map, created by a team of researchers led by Thomas Watters of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, provides a detailed look at the Moon’s surface and its tectonic features. The map, based on data collected by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft, covers the entire Moon and reveals previously unknown mare ridges.
The mare ridges, which are typically a few kilometers long and tens of meters high, are concentrated in the lunar maria, the dark, smooth areas on the Moon’s surface. These features were first discovered in the 1970s by the Apollo missions, but the new map shows that there are many more of them than previously thought. “This was a surprising finding,” says Watters. “We thought that we had a pretty good handle on the number of ridges, but it turns out there are over 1,100 of them that we didn’t know about before.”
The discovery of these new ridges suggests that the Moon’s tectonic activity is much more widespread than previously believed. “We used to think that the tectonic activity on the Moon was limited to a few specific regions,” explains Watters. “But now we see that it’s happening all over the place, even in regions that were previously thought to be geologically dead.”
One of the most significant implications of this discovery is that the Moon’s crust is still actively shrinking. This could have important implications for future lunar missions, including NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024. Understanding the Moon’s tectonic activity is crucial for assessing seismic risks and ensuring the safety of astronauts on the lunar surface.
The mare ridges, which are formed by thrust faults, are evidence of the Moon’s ongoing tectonic activity. These faults occur when one section of the crust is pushed up and over another section, creating a ridge. The researchers believe that this process is still happening on the Moon and could potentially cause moonquakes, which have been recorded by seismometers placed on the lunar surface by the Apollo missions.
The widespread occurrence of these mare ridges also suggests that moonquakes could occur in many more regions than previously thought. “This finding may reshape how space agencies assess seismic risks for future lunar missions,” says Watters. “It’s important to understand the potential hazards on the Moon’s surface so that we can plan and design our missions accordingly.”
The new map also provides valuable insights into the Moon’s geological history. By studying the location and orientation of the mare ridges, researchers can learn more about the forces that have shaped the Moon over time. “By mapping these features, we can better understand the processes that have been at work on the Moon’s surface,” says Watters. “It’s like putting together a giant puzzle and slowly revealing the Moon’s secrets.”
The team’s findings, published in the journal Science Advances, highlight the importance of continued exploration and research on the Moon. “The Moon is our closest neighbor in space, but we still have a lot to learn about it,” says Watters. “This new map is just the beginning. There is still so much more to discover and understand about the Moon’s geology and its potential for future exploration.”
The study also serves as a reminder that the Moon, although seemingly quiet and unchanging, is a dynamic and evolving world. As we prepare to return to the Moon and establish a sustained presence on its surface, it is essential to continue studying and monitoring its tectonic activity. The new global map of mare ridges is a significant step
