Lunar vortices are mysterious, light-colored, zigzagging features on the surface of the Moon that stretch for hundreds of kilometers.
These interesting shapes, visible even through binoculars in the backyard, have defied easy explanation for years. Recent research suggests that the eddies could be magnetized by invisible magma beneath the lunar surface.
New perspectives on lunar vortices
Recent modeling and spacecraft data suggest this stones in lunar vortices they are magnetized, which deflects or redirects the solar wind particles that constantly bombard the Moon. This redirection causes the neighboring rocks to darken due to chemical reactions from the collisions, while the eddies themselves remain bright.
Michael J. Krawczynski, associate professor at the University of Washington in St. Louis, explains: “Shocks could cause these types of magnetic anomalies. But there are some eddies where we’re just not sure how an impact could create such a shape and size of thing.” This observation points to a more complex process behind the formation of eddies, suggesting that surface impacts alone cannot explain their unique shapes and sizes.
Krawczynski and his team propose that underground lavas cool slowly in the va magnetic field may be responsible for the magnetic anomalies observed in the eddies. Their experiments, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, focused on the mineral ilmenite, which is abundant on the Moon.
They found that under monthly conditions ilmenite can react to form magnetizable metallic iron particles, potentially explaining the magnetization of vortices. Yuanyuan Liang, a co-author of the study, commented, “It seems that the smaller grains we worked with produced stronger magnetic fields because the surface area to volume ratio is larger for smaller grains compared to larger grains. With more exposed surface area, it is easier for smaller grains to undergo the reduction reaction. This finding suggests that the size and distribution of mineral grains plays a critical role in the magnetization process.
Implications for lunar exploration
Determination of origin moon spins is essential to understanding the processes that shaped the lunar surface and the history of the Moon’s magnetic field. Future missions, such as NASA’s planned rover mission to the Reiner Gamma vortex in 2025, will help collect more data to confirm these findings. “If you want to create magnetic anomalies with the methods we describe, then the underground magma has to be high in titanium,” Krawczynski said. “We have seen hints of this iron-forming reaction in lunar meteorites and in lunar samples from Apollo.
But all those samples are superficial lava flowsand our study shows that subsurface cooling should greatly enhance these metal-forming reactions.” This insight could reshape our understanding of lunar geology and the role of magnetic fields in shaping planetary surfaces.
This research will aid in the interpretation of data from future lunar missions, particularly those that investigate magnetic anomalies. For now, Krawczynski stresses the need for more direct sampling: “If we could just drill down, we could see if this reaction is happening. That would be great, but it’s not possible yet. Right now we’re stuck on the surface.” As technology advances, future missions could eventually provide the ability to drill beneath the surface of the moon, offering a more comprehensive understanding of these mysterious features.
Findings from these studies will be useful NASA and other space agencies are preparing for upcoming lunar missions to unravel the mysteries of lunar vortices and their implications for geological history of the moon. Scientists hope that by understanding the process of magnetization and the role of underground magma, they will unlock new insights into the Moon’s past and its evolution. This research not only sheds light on lunar phenomena, but also improves our broader understanding of planetary magnetism and geological processes in our solar system.
