Scientists have recently shed light on a concerning phenomenon - the Moon is getting smaller. This revelation has raised alarms about the potential impact on future lunar missions. With the prospect of human settlements on the Moon not too far away and NASA's dedication to lunar exploration, understanding this shrinking process has become crucial. A recently published study, 'Tectonics and Seismicity of the Lunar South Polar Region,' delves into this issue, specifically focusing on the south polar region, which appears to be more affected than any other area.
The shrinkage of the Moon's circumference over the past few hundred million years, due to the gradual cooling of its core, has caused the south polar region to experience significant pressure. The study suggests that around 50 years ago, this area of the Moon was struck by a moonquake, which was one of the most powerful ever recorded. Thomas R Watter, a senior scientist emeritus at the National Air and Space Museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies and lead author of the study, explains, 'Our modeling 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.'
