2023-09-02 17:10:02
News JVTech “Higher than expected”: Indian probe Chandrayaan-3 measures the temperature of the lunar south pole for the first time
Published on 02/09/2023 at 19:10
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India is already proving that its probe is essential by providing unprecedented information on the Moon. As a bonus, we are entitled to surprises that greatly surprised the scientists when they received the data.
The Moon of all extremes
Among the well-kept mysteries of our natural satellite, one of them is hidden in its extreme climate, oscillating between surprising thermal extremes that defy all earthly logic.
During the day, when the sun bathes its surface in its rays, the Moon can reach sweltering temperatures, rising up to 214 degrees celsius. This figure, well above the boiling point of water, is enough to melt almost anything on its surface. The astronauts who were lucky enough to walk on this arid and stony ground had to protect themselves from this consuming heat with the help of specially designed space suits.
However, when the lunar night sets in, it’s a whole different story. Temperatures suddenly plunge into the frigid, reaching a tiny -184 degrees celsius. At such extremes, life as we know it would simply be impossible. Objects, materials, everything freezes in the cold, and even oxygen condenses into a solid form.
However, in the middle of this thermal duality, there is an exceptional zone, a sort of enigma at the heart of this world: the lunar poles. In these regions, temperatures fluctuate between 54 degrees Celsius and a freezing -203 degrees Celsius. These extreme deviations show us that the Moon is a planet of extremes, where thermal variations can be dramatic, even on relatively short scales.
A major discovery
It is in this context that India has already written a page in the history of space exploration by launching the Chandrayaan-3 mission towards the lunar south pole. This mission goes well beyond a simple probe, it is equipped with a set of four instruments grouped together under the name Chandra Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE). Their mission? Mapping the temperature of the lunar surface, a major scientific challenge.
Since its successful landing on August 23, researchers have rushed to activate ChaSTE to collect the first data from this hitherto unexplored area. The results, to say the least astounding, were quickly revealed. The measurements reveal an abrupt temperature variation at different depths, with peaks of more than 50 degrees Celsius at the surface, which drop to almost -10 degrees Celsius a few millimeters below. These figures defy all expectations of researchers.
The key to these precise readings lies in an ingenious mechanism capable of drilling the lunar soil to take measurements at different depths. This revolutionary technological advance allows us to better understand the lunar climate, characterized by significant variations due to the absence of a protective atmosphere. For this time of year, scientists anticipate temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, but the figures obtained greatly exceed this forecast, easily exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
The Chandrayaan-3 mission, thanks to its ability to unravel the mysteries of extreme lunar temperatures, sheds new light on our closest natural satellite. A major scientific advance that brings us a little closer to understanding our celestial neighbor, the Moon, and its extraordinary climates.
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