NASA has discovered water on the moon!2 min read

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Here’s some good news for all you space buffs out there – there’s a lot more water on the Moon than we thought! Scientists have discovered that parts of the moon that were thought to be dry earlier, actually have water. This discovery is very important for future space missions!

🌔 ICYMI… using our @SOFIATelescope, we found water on the Moon's sunlit surface for the first time. Scientists think the water could be stored inside glass beadlike structures within the soil that can be smaller than the tip of a pencil. A recap: https://t.co/lCDDp7pbcl pic.twitter.com/d3CRe96LDm

— NASA (@NASA) October 26, 2020

Two studies were conducted – one found that there is water on the part of the Moon that is exposed to the rays of the Sun, also called the ‘sunlit surface’. The other study found that the dark, shadow-y portion of the moon has a lot more ice than assumed before.

Using the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy ) observatory, researchers from NASA detected water molecules (H2O) in the Clavius Crater, one of the largest craters on the Moon’s southern hemisphere. According to Nasa, data showed water in concentrations of 100 to 412 parts per million – that equals a 12-ounce (1 ounce is 0.0295735 litres. Can you guess how much 12 ounces is?) bottle of water – trapped in a cubic meter of soil.

Water means life forms, so are there aliens on the Moon?

Water indicates the existence of life forms, but apart from that, water is an important resource when you’re deep in space. When astronauts land on the Moon, water is not only important for sustenance, but can also be used to generate rocket fuel. This means that less water can be carried from down here on Earth for space missions.

However, whether it is actually possible for us humans to make a base on the Moon needs more research, which NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions will study.