An international team of researchers analyzed mineralogical maps and found that both water and hydroxyl (a molecule consisting of hydrogen and oxygen) exist at all lunar latitudes and in various landscapes, including regions exposed to intense sunlight. This study was published in The Planetary Science Journal. Planetary scientist Roger Clark from the Planetary Science Institute highlights the significance of this discovery: “Future astronauts may be able to locate water even near the Moon’s equator by targeting these water-rich areas. Until now, it was believed that abundant water could only be found in the polar regions, particularly within the permanently shadowed craters.” At first glance, the Moon appears dry and desolate, with no lakes or rivers visible on its surface. However, studies suggest large quantities of water may be hidden beneath the surface. Previously, it was assumed that water was mostly concentrated in the polar regions, but new data suggest that water and hydroxyl are distributed across the entire lunar surface. Using data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) aboard India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, scientists detected infrared light reflected from the Moon, revealing the presence of water and hydroxyl. The findings indicate that these molecules are present almost everywhere, though in varying concentrations. Interestingly, water on the Moon doesn’t remain for long. It is exposed to the solar wind and gradually breaks down, leaving behind traces in the form of hydroxyl. “When we compile all the evidence, it shows that the lunar surface has complex geology, with substantial amounts of subsurface water and a surface layer of hydroxyl,” said Clark. The study also touches on the enigmatic lunar swirls—patterns on the Moon’s surface that may have been shaped by ancient water-related processes. Further investigation into these formations could help unlock more lunar mysteries. This discovery has profound implications for future lunar exploration, as scientists believe astronauts could potentially extract water from hydroxyl-rich minerals. “By processing these minerals, astronauts could extract water from the lunar rocks,” Clark concluded. The post Water Is Found All Over the Surface of the Moon appeared first on Anomalien.com.