Moon is shrinking, experiencing unprecedented quakes: NASA report

A new study conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed that the Moon has been shrinking in size over the past hundred million years. This has also resulted in unprecedented moonquakes.

According to a recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal on January 25, the Moon has shrunk over 150 feet in its circumference while the core of the Moon gradually cooled during the same period. The continuation of the shrinking process of the Moon is leading to the forming of moonquakes, the study revealed.

The study has been undertaken by a group of scientists from NASA, the Smithsonian, Arizona State University, and The University of Maryland. The new findings also revealed that this process of shrinkage in the Moon will lead to changing the shape of the surface around the Lunar South Pole where the US space agency is planning to land for the crewed Artemis III mission.

“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,” said Tom Watters from Smithsonian Institution, Washington, a lead author of the paper.

As per the NASA report, the researchers have undertaken the study by using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera on board. The LRO Camera used in the process helps the space agency to detect the thousands of relatively small and young thrust faults widely distributed in the lunar crust.

The shrinking process of the Moon is being compared to the wrinkling of a grape in the pictures shared by NASA.

Meanwhile, the shallow moonquakes that have been occurring on the Moon’s crust are measured to be about 100 miles deep. But unlike our planet, where earthquakes last for only a few seconds, moonquakes can last for hours and even a whole afternoon, which can cause a major impact.