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Outgassing of a Lunar Atmosphere

This is an image of the Moon showing various minerals found on the surface. Click on image for full size version (86K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

The atmosphere of the Moon may come from a couple of sources, one source is outgassing which means gases coming from deep within the Moon.

Gases are released from the interior of the Moon during moonquakes. These gases can be measured form a kind of "time machine" that scientists can use to determine what happened on the Moon in the past.

Compared to the Earth, the Moon has a inactive surface. This means there are no volcanos on the Moon. However moonquakes do occur on the Moon, usually coming from between the crust of the Moon and the Moon's core. Scientists can measure the gases from outgassing and learn more about moonquakes.

This is an image of the Moon showing various minerals found on the surface. Click on image for full size version (86K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

The atmosphere of the Moon may come from a couple of sources, one source is outgassing or the release of gases such as radon, which originate deep inside the Moon.

Gases are released from the interior of the Moon during moonquakes. Certain elements are radioactive which means that over time, these elements decay and change into new elements. These elements form a kind of "time machine" that scientists can use to determine what happened on the Moon in the past.

Compared to the Earth, the Moon's surface is inactive, however moonquakes do occur, usually originating in the region between the crust of the Moon and the Moon's core. By measuring outgassing events by special detectors researchers may be able to discover information about the character and frequency of that tectonic activity.

This is an image of the Moon showing various minerals found on the surface. Click on image for full size version (86K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

The atmosphere of the Moon may come from a couple of sources, one source is outgassing or the release of gases such as radon, which originate deep within the Moon's interior.

Gases are released from the interior of the Moon during moonquakes. Certain elements, such as uranium and thorium, are radioactive which means that over time, these elements decay and change into new elements, such as radon and polonium. The energy lost in this process takes the form of gamma rays, alpha particles and beta particles. These can be measured. These elements form a kind of "time machine" that scientists can use to determine what happened on the Moon in the past.

Compared to the Earth, the Moon is tectonically inactive, however moonquakes do occur, usually originating in the region between the lithosphere of the Moon and the Moon's core. By measuring outgassing events by special detectors such as the Alpha Particle Spectrometer onboard Lunar Prospector, researchers may be able to infer information about the character and frequency of that tectonic activity.