Moon samples show Earth's magnetic field slows solar wind on near side
Noble gases in lunar regolith from China's Chang'e-6 mission reveal uneven solar wind bombardment between the Moon's near and far sides.
Erhan Dayı
New analysis of lunar samples has revealed how Earth's magnetosphere slows the solar wind striking the Moon's near side, while the far side experiences deeper solar wind penetration. The evidence comes from noble gases preserved in lunar regolith.
The discovery was made using samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 mission. By measuring noble gases in the lunar soil, researchers found that the near side of the Moon shows less solar wind damage than the far side.
Provided the lunar samples that contained noble gas evidence of uneven solar wind bombardment.
Noble gases in the lunar regolith preserved the telltale signs of this uneven bombardment. Earth's magnetic field acts as a shield, deflecting solar wind particles before they can hit the near side of the Moon.
Researchers noted that the preserved gases may help reconstruct the ancient history of Earth's magnetic shield, offering clues about how it has changed over time.
Technology Correspondent · Talivio News
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