<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidvW0YBhtCk3dN" /><meta charset="utf-8" />The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Friday (Apr 5) released images of a mysterious silver surfboard-shaped object&nbsp;which was orbiting the Moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The identity of the object, which was captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) last month, has now been revealed. LRO has been circling and studying the Moon for 15 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The curious souls might think it's an Unidentified flying object (UFO), but it's not.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moon-once-literally-turned-itself-inside-out-scientists-wonder-how-709404">Moon once 'literally turned itself inside out'. Scientists wonder 'how'</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>NASA revealed that LRO last month captured several images of Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri lunar orbiter, which may appear to be mysterious unless explained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA said that the two spacecraft zipped past each other in opposite directions between March 5 and 6, 2024. Both spacecraft were travelling in nearly parallel orbits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Danuri is Korea's first spacecraft on the Moon and has been in lunar orbit since December 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/crushed-and-grounded-to-dust-a-violent-end-awaits-our-solar-system-709327">A violent end awaits our solar system as all planets will be 'crushed' to dust one day</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>NASA said in its reports that the LRO operations team at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland needed "exquisite timing" in pointing LROC to the right place at the right time to catch a glimpse of Danuri.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The task, however, was not easy because of the fast relative velocities between the two spacecraft, which is about 11,500 kilometres per hour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The American space agency said that LRO's narrow-angle camera captured the images during three orbits that happened to be close enough to Danuri’s to grab the images.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To be clear, the Danuri orbiter is not a weirdly thin load of pixels—it's a fairly normal-looking orbiter. But the terrific speeds involved mean that it's smeared on the LRO's camera detector.<br />
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Here it is in "unsmeared" form, by the LRO team: <a href="https://t.co/qrcXH428CP">pic.twitter.com/qrcXH428CP</a></p>
— Paul Byrne (@ThePlanetaryGuy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePlanetaryGuy/status/1776303112883507357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">I pronađemo. Orbiter 'Danuri', Južna Koreja, na 8 km ispod LRO <a href="https://t.co/S2IfS1GYpk">pic.twitter.com/S2IfS1GYpk</a></p>
— Underdog (@BLANKTIPLER) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLANKTIPLER/status/1776496012476981532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Darkness blankets Niagara falls during solar eclipse</strong></p>

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<p>LRO was launched in 2009 and has collected crucial data with its seven powerful instruments. It has emerged as an invaluable contribution to the study of the Moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Although LRO's camera exposure time was very short, only 0.338 milliseconds, Danuri still appears smeared to 10 times its size in the opposite direction of travel because of the relative high travel velocities between the two spacecraft," NASA said in its report.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Friday (Apr 5) released images of a mysterious silver surfboard-shaped object which was orbiting the Moon.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Friday (Apr 5) released images of a mysterious silver surfboard-shaped object which was orbiting the Moon. The identity of the object, which was captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) last month, has now been revealed. LRO has been circling and studying the Moon for 15 years. The curious souls might think it's an Unidentified flying object (UFO), but it's not. Also read: Moon once 'literally turned itself inside out'. Scientists wonder 'how' NASA revealed that LRO last month captured several images of Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri lunar orbiter, which may appear to be mysterious unless explained. NASA said that the two spacecraft zipped past each other in opposite directions between March 5 and 6, 2024. Both spacecraft were travelling in nearly parallel orbits. Danuri is Korea's first spacecraft on the Moon and has been in lunar orbit since December 2022. Also read: A violent end awaits our solar system as all planets will be 'crushed' to dust one day NASA said in its reports that the LRO operations team at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland needed "exquisite timing" in pointing LROC to the right place at the right time to catch a glimpse of Danuri. The task, however, was not easy because of the fast relative velocities between the two spacecraft, which is about 11,500 kilometres per hour. The American space agency said that LRO's narrow-angle camera captured the images during three orbits that happened to be close enough to Danuri’s to grab the images. To be clear, the Danuri orbiter is not a weirdly thin load of pixels—it's a fairly normal-looking orbiter. But the terrific speeds involved mean that it's smeared on the LRO's camera detector. Here it is in "unsmeared" form, by the LRO team: pic.twitter.com/qrcXH428CP — Paul Byrne (@ThePlanetaryGuy) April 5, 2024 × I pronađemo. Orbiter 'Danuri', Južna Koreja, na 8 km ispod LRO pic.twitter.com/S2IfS1GYpk — Underdog (@BLANKTIPLER) April 6, 2024 × Watch: Darkness blankets Niagara falls during solar eclipse × LRO was launched in 2009 and has collected crucial data with its seven powerful instruments. It has emerged as an invaluable contribution to the study of the Moon. "Although LRO's camera exposure time was very short, only 0.338 milliseconds, Danuri still appears smeared to 10 times its size in the opposite direction of travel because of the relative high travel velocities between the two spacecraft," NASA said in its report. (With inputs from agencies)

A mysterious silver object has been orbiting the Moon for 15 years. What is it?

<p>New NASA-funded research has uncovered a surprising reality behind the serene facade of the moon. It turns out that the beautiful celestial object in our night skies is not as calm as it seems! Research suggests that it may actually be hiding some turbulence right at its core, that is causing it to shrink.</p>

<h2><strong>Wrinkles on the moon</strong></h2>

<p>As per The Guardian, as the moon's core cools down, it is actually shrinking. This is causing its surface to shrivel and form what scientists call thrust faults—basically, giant ripples across its surface.</p>

<p>These thrust faults aren't just harmless wrinkles; they can actually lead to moonquakes and landslides that last for hours.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aliens-made-the-meteor-that-hit-earth-10-years-ago-scientist-claims-687718">Aliens made the 'meteor' that hit Earth 10 years ago, scientist claims</a></strong></p>

<p>In the new research published in the Planetary Science Journal, lead researcher Tom Watters from the Smithsonian Institution explains: "Our modelling suggests that shallow moonquakes capable of producing strong ground shaking in the south polar region are possible from slip events on existing faults or the formation of new thrust faults," he said.</p>

<p>The researchers took a close look at the moon's South Pole, an area believed to have places with water ice hidden in the shadows. This region is super important and is set to be explored by NASA's Artemis III mission in 2026.</p>

<p>Using cameras aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers spotted lots of "relatively small, young thrust faults widely distributed in the lunar crust, and seismic devices left on the moon's surface by astronauts decades ago".</p>

<p>They compared these findings with seismic data and found that they matched.</p>

<h2><strong>Why is this significant?</strong></h2>

<p>You may be asking why does this even matter. Well, it is not great news for astronauts or robots exploring the moon. These can actually be very dangerous as humans continue to explore Earth's natural satellite.</p>

<p>In a statement published by NASA, Watters said that "The global distribution of young thrust faults, their potential to be active, and the potential to form new thrust faults from ongoing global contraction should be considered when planning the location and stability of permanent outposts on the Moon".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rocks-found-in-antarctica-suggest-an-asteroid-may-have-exploded-over-the-continent-25-million-years-ago-687777">An asteroid exploded over Antarctica 2.5 million years ago, rocky evidence suggests</a></strong></p>

<p>Speaking with CNN, he clarified that he was not trying to "alarm anyone" or "discourage exploration" of the moon. He said taht he just wants to warn future astronauts that the moon is more dynamic than it looks.&nbsp;"The moon is not this benign place where nothing is happening," he remarked.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


New NASA-funded research has uncovered a surprising reality behind the serene facade of the moon. It turns out that the beautiful celestial object in our night skies is not as calm as it seems!

New NASA-funded research has uncovered a surprising reality behind the serene facade of the moon. It turns out that the beautiful celestial object in our night skies is not as calm as it seems! Research suggests that it may actually be hiding some turbulence right at its core, that is causing it to shrink. Wrinkles on the moon As per The Guardian, as the moon's core cools down, it is actually shrinking. This is causing its surface to shrivel and form what scientists call thrust faults—basically, giant ripples across its surface. These thrust faults aren't just harmless wrinkles; they can actually lead to moonquakes and landslides that last for hours. Also read | Aliens made the 'meteor' that hit Earth 10 years ago, scientist claims In the new research published in the Planetary Science Journal, lead researcher Tom Watters from the Smithsonian Institution explains: "Our modelling suggests that shallow moonquakes capable of producing strong ground shaking in the south polar region are possible from slip events on existing faults or the formation of new thrust faults," he said. The researchers took a close look at the moon's South Pole, an area believed to have places with water ice hidden in the shadows. This region is super important and is set to be explored by NASA's Artemis III mission in 2026. Using cameras aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers spotted lots of "relatively small, young thrust faults widely distributed in the lunar crust, and seismic devices left on the moon's surface by astronauts decades ago". They compared these findings with seismic data and found that they matched. Why is this significant? You may be asking why does this even matter. Well, it is not great news for astronauts or robots exploring the moon. These can actually be very dangerous as humans continue to explore Earth's natural satellite. In a statement published by NASA, Watters said that "The global distribution of young thrust faults, their potential to be active, and the potential to form new thrust faults from ongoing global contraction should be considered when planning the location and stability of permanent outposts on the Moon". Also read | An asteroid exploded over Antarctica 2.5 million years ago, rocky evidence suggests Speaking with CNN, he clarified that he was not trying to "alarm anyone" or "discourage exploration" of the moon. He said taht he just wants to warn future astronauts that the moon is more dynamic than it looks. "The moon is not this benign place where nothing is happening," he remarked. (With inputs from agencies)

Moon's serene facade is hiding a turbulent reality, reveals NASA-funded research

<p>There's a possibility that humans will live on Moon — someday, one day. This is not just science fiction, scientists are actually optimistic as multiple researchers attempt to know how the so-called lunar habitation will happen in reality. But, even the experts are aware that setting up camp on the Moon is more difficult than sending astronauts there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This can be simplified a bit. In the latest development, the American space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), suggested that humans could live in caves on Moon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft finds pits on the lunar surface that always hover around a comfortable temperature of 63F (about 17C). NASA-funded scientists found it using data from LRO spacecraft and computer modelling.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-nasa-is-being-pressured-to-change-james-webb-space-telescopes-name-500753">Why NASA is being pressured to change James Webb space telescope's name</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>NASA stated that the pits were first discovered on the Moon in 2009. After that, scientists have been exploring whether or not those caves could be used as shelters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA also noted that those pits or caves would also offer some protection from cosmic rays, solar radiation and micrometeorites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists&nbsp;used computer modelling to analyse the thermal properties of the rock and lunar dust and to understand the pit's temperatures over time, NASA said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The findings showed that the temperatures within the permanently shadowed reaches of the pit fluctuate only slightly throughout the lunar day. It remains&nbsp;at around 63 F (or 17 C).&nbsp;</p>

<p>It means the&nbsp;a nearside pit crater in the Moon's Sea of Tranquility is with room temperatures. The room temperature is&nbsp;identified&nbsp;as around&nbsp; 68–72 F (20–22 C) or in some cases 68 F (20 C).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/launch-timeline-and-cost-of-isros-five-upcoming-space-science-missions-revealed-500820">Launch timeline and cost of ISRO's five upcoming space science missions revealed</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by the NASA website, Tyler Horvath, who is a doctoral student in planetary science at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, "About 16 of the more than 200 pits are probably collapsed lava tubes." Horvath led the new research, recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>LRO Project Scientist Noah Petro of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said, "Lunar pits are a fascinating feature on the lunar surface. Knowing that they create a stable thermal environment helps us paint a picture of these unique lunar features and the prospect of one day exploring them."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Humans evolved living in caves, and to caves we might return when we live on the Moon," said David Paige, a co-author of the paper who leads the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard LRO that made the temperature measurements used in the study.&nbsp;</p>

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There's a possibility that humans will live on Moon — someday, one day. This is not just science fiction, scientists are actually optimistic as multiple researchers attempt to know how the so-called lunar habitation will happen in reality.

There's a possibility that humans will live on Moon — someday, one day. This is not just science fiction, scientists are actually optimistic as multiple researchers attempt to know how the so-called lunar habitation will happen in reality. But, even the experts are aware that setting up camp on the Moon is more difficult than sending astronauts there. This can be simplified a bit. In the latest development, the American space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), suggested that humans could live in caves on Moon. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft finds pits on the lunar surface that always hover around a comfortable temperature of 63F (about 17C). NASA-funded scientists found it using data from LRO spacecraft and computer modelling. ALSO READ | Why NASA is being pressured to change James Webb space telescope's name NASA stated that the pits were first discovered on the Moon in 2009. After that, scientists have been exploring whether or not those caves could be used as shelters. NASA also noted that those pits or caves would also offer some protection from cosmic rays, solar radiation and micrometeorites. Scientists used computer modelling to analyse the thermal properties of the rock and lunar dust and to understand the pit's temperatures over time, NASA said. The findings showed that the temperatures within the permanently shadowed reaches of the pit fluctuate only slightly throughout the lunar day. It remains at around 63 F (or 17 C). It means the a nearside pit crater in the Moon's Sea of Tranquility is with room temperatures. The room temperature is identified as around 68–72 F (20–22 C) or in some cases 68 F (20 C). ALSO READ | Launch timeline and cost of ISRO's five upcoming space science missions revealed As quoted by the NASA website, Tyler Horvath, who is a doctoral student in planetary science at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, "About 16 of the more than 200 pits are probably collapsed lava tubes." Horvath led the new research, recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. LRO Project Scientist Noah Petro of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said, "Lunar pits are a fascinating feature on the lunar surface. Knowing that they create a stable thermal environment helps us paint a picture of these unique lunar features and the prospect of one day exploring them." "Humans evolved living in caves, and to caves we might return when we live on the Moon," said David Paige, a co-author of the paper who leads the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard LRO that made the temperature measurements used in the study. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Some pits on the Moon have temperatures comfortable for humans, NASA finds

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and earthquakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday.

The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study