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Study: Carbonaceous chondrite impact responsible for lunar water

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According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a Chinese research team used data from the Chang’e-4 lunar probe to determine that a water-rich meteorite hit the moon about 1 million years ago.

Liu Yang of the National Space Science Center (NSSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences told Xinhua that the impact is believed to be related to carbonaceous chondrites, a type of water-rich asteroid. Liu is the corresponding author of the study, which was published in the journal Natural Astronomy.

Carbonaceous chondrites are considered to be one of the oldest celestial bodies in the solar system, rich in water and organic matter. Scientists believe that they are probably related to the origin of life on Earth.

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According to Liu, if a carbonaceous chondrite hits the moon, some of the water it carries may remain on the moon.

A previous study showed that impacts are one of the main sources of water on the moon, as well as volcanic eruptions and solar wind.

On the ninth lunar day of the mission, the rover Yutu-2 of the Chang’e-4 probe encountered a small impact crater with a depth of 15 to 20 centimeters and performed detailed spectral measurements.

After analyzing the high-resolution remote sensing images and hyperspectral data of Yutu-2, the researchers identified the material around the center of the crater as the remnants of the impact of the carbonaceous chondrite.

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Liu said that previous studies have found carbonaceous chondrite fragments in lunar samples brought back by the Apollo program, but this is the first time that carbonaceous chondrite impact residues have been directly observed on the lunar surface through remote sensing.

The research team estimates that the impact event occurred as long as 1 million years ago-a short time period compared with the geological time scale since the formation of the moon, roughly equivalent to a few minutes ago in a person’s life.

Therefore, the team concluded that carbonaceous chondrite impacts are still providing water for the moon.

He said that Liu’s team is still using data from the Chinese Mars probe Tianwen-1 to study the ancient water environment of the red planet.

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Complete News Source : CGTN

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