clavius crater
In October 2020, NASA confirmed the existence of molecular water near Clavius, at concentrations of up to 412 parts per million.[1] Several ways have been suggested. The water could be trapped into tiny beadlike structures in the soil that form out of the high heat created by micrometeorite impacts.[2] The water might also be sheltered between lunar soil grains. Another possibility is from very small asteroid strikes, such as a rubble pile from a much more massive "parent" asteroid collision. Pulled apart in its descent to the lunar surface similar to Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, and hitting the surface in a modest dispersal area with a small mass at low, oblique impact angle and bouncing could allow some water to remain in the lithic matrix. The carbonaceous chondrite class is often water-rich, and the CI sub group are as much as 22% water.
clavius crater
In October 2020, NASA confirmed the existence of molecular water near Clavius, at concentrations of up to 412 parts per million.[1] Several ways have been suggested. The water could be trapped into tiny beadlike structures in the soil that form out of the high heat created by micrometeorite impacts.[2] The water might also be sheltered between lunar soil grains. Another possibility is from very small asteroid strikes, such as a rubble pile from a much more massive "parent" asteroid collision. Pulled apart in its descent to the lunar surface similar to Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, and hitting the surface in a modest dispersal area with a small mass at low, oblique impact angle and bouncing could allow some water to remain in the lithic matrix. The carbonaceous chondrite class is often water-rich, and the CI sub group are as much as 22% water.