Moon: Coldest Place In Our Solar System?

Moon could be the coldest place in our solar system according to the scientist. Recently NASA’s probe has discovered that there are some regions on the surface of the moon were the temperature drops to –390 degrees F. This is because the craters on the moon are so deep that the sunlight barely or never reaches the surface thus making the area super cool. NASA’s latest lunar probe the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) which was sent to map the topography of the moon, conducted several analysis on the craters of the moon and thus revealing the thrilling news that the temperatures recorded are the lowest anywhere in the solar system.

According to scientists, the lunar south pole never see sunlight therefore may actually represent the coldest places in the solar system and that is not all, there is a possibility of having water ice in that region too. The temperatures recorded even beat the temperatures measured the lonely planet Pluto. This basically depends on the amount of sunlight reaching that region. According to scientist, the closest planet to sun i.e Mercury may harbour some coldest regions in the solar system.

According to scientist the shadow regions of the moon where sunlight never reaches, the temperatures can drop down to -397 degrees F. (Credit: NASA)

Another amazing thing is that, during the survey by the LRO, the probe picked up some traces of water ice near the moon’s shadowed regions. A neutron detector aboard the lunar orbiter found a decrease in neutron radiation that could represent either water or hydrogen in certain areas. NASA hopes to get more details on the water issue when the spacecraft LCROSS slams on the surface of the moon and kick up any signs of water ice in the cloud of debris.

A part of the moon called the South Pole-Aitken Basin (shown here in blue on a lunar topography image), is a giant impact crater that may hold many potential spots to find lunar ice deposits. Credit: NASA

Courtesy Popular Science.

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