How magnetic is the moon? A new study cracks the long-standing mystery

By chance, the Apollo mission collected more of the high titanium rock samples because this rock type is more prolific in the relatively flat area where the missions chose to land. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

How magnetic is the moon? Analysis of rock samples from the Apollo missions suggested that the moon had an extremely strong magnetic field in its early history – even stronger than Earth’s.

But no one could figure out how such a small planetary body could have such a strong field. Now a fresh study has cracked the mystery.