Peking, China - Recent findings from the Chang'e-5 lunar mission indicate that the Moon possessed a weak magnetic field approximately two billion years ago. This revelation, reported by scientists including Shuhui Cai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the journal Science Advances, sheds light on the Moon's geological history.
The analysis of rock samples returned by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020 suggests that, while the Moon lacks a global magnetic field today, it once generated one through thermomechanical convection within its core. Previous studies, including those from Apollo missions, hinted at a magnetic field existing around four billion years ago, albeit significantly weaker than Earth's.
The current research indicates that the Moon's magnetic field ranged between 2,000 to 4,000 nanotesla two billion years ago. This discovery implies that the Moon retained molten material beneath its surface longer than previously believed, suggesting prolonged geological activity, potential volcanic activity, and possibly more frozen water in its shadowed regions.
This magnetic field could have shielded surface water from solar winds, preventing its transformation into other materials and allowing for the possibility of ancient water reservoirs on the Moon.