Scientists have discovered new ice patches near the poles of the moon indicating the axis had shifted many years ago. The good news is that it will help us understand our structure and evolution. The bad? Nothing really.
ICE ON THE MOON MAKES NEWS
Data taken from NASA’s Lunar Prospector, which orbited the moon in 1998 and 1999 revealed some ice deposits at the end of each pole. Now, ice deposits found at the poles is nothing new, but it’s where these ice patches are that’s making the news. By connecting the two ice spots with a straight line, the body’s axis was created, yet this was offset by 5.5 degrees. While confusing, scientists believe that may have an explanation.
THE SHIFTING OF THE POLES
It seems that poles are not always what they seem to be. News states that this was probably due to internal distribution of lunar mass. By using models, scientists were able to guess that the ice patches they found were the moon’s actual poles roughly 3 billion years ago. The poles migrated. Using this information, researchers were able to gather were the mass distribution shifted. This occurred over on the near side of the moon. A once volcanically active area. These volcanoes heating the mantle of the moon, making it more malleable and causing a shift of sorts. So what does all this news mean? Are we actually at any threat?
EARTH WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL
As usual, the news tended to blow this out of proportion. What they really should focus on is not how this effects earth, but how it effects the history. Finding this ancient ice will give scientists a better understanding of how water came to be on Earth. This may be the very spot where water was supplied to earth. Despite all the history we have of our own planet we have no idea where our most valuable resource has come from. Just like Renee Zellweger, Earth has gone through such a transformation over the years that it’s impossible to identify its original state. Ancient lunar ice, however, well it’s ancient. Therefore, it may hold the key to our history.
