Scientists have confirmed that it is inside the Moon

A thorough investigation has determined that the Moon’s inner core is actually a solid sphere with a density similar to that of iron.

Researchers hope this will help them better understand the history of the Solar System and resolve the long-standing debate over whether the inner core of the celestial body is solid or molten.

Inside the Moon

The structure of the Moon puzzled astronomers centuries before the advent of spaceships. In the early 20th century, scientists debated whether the Moon was merely a rocky object similar to the Martian moons, or whether it had a more complex internal geology. Now the debate can finally be closed.

According to the latest mathematical models, the Moon, like the Earth, has a liquid outer core and a solid inner core. The inner core is made of a metal with a density similar to that of iron and has a diameter of about 500 kilometers, which is about 15% of the total diameter of the celestial body.

Illustration of various instruments measuring the properties of the Moon. Source: Géoazur/Nicolas Sarter

The researchers also collected additional data, and then created a profile of the Moon’s characteristics based on this. The profile includes density and changes in distance from Earth, as well as several comparisons. Inside, the denser material falls towards the center, and the less dense material rises upwards. It also revealed that the core is very similar to Earth’s, with an outer liquid layer and a solid inner core.

Interestingly, back in 2011, a group led by NASA scientists reached a similar result when they used seismological methods based on Apollo data to study the lunar core. They found evidence of a solid inner core with a radius of about 240 kilometers and a density of about 8,000 kilograms per cubic meter. The fact that the two studies agree using two different techniques lends even more credibility to this conclusion.

A deeper understanding of its inner workings could help scientists unravel the moon’s geological mysteries, such as what happened to its once-powerful magnetic field. The Moon no longer has a magnetic field, but based on rock samples, it once had a magnetic field that rivaled Earth’s.

As government agencies and private space exploration companies prepare for more lunar missions, the promise of new data is on the horizon.