Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: neilep on 20/03/2008 11:26:43

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: neilep on 20/03/2008 11:26:43

Hi All,

D'ya like my moon ?..it's my favourite all time natural satellite thingy that orbits us !

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Is there any tectonic activity on the moon ?......I heard that there are in fact moon quakes ?..is this true ?......If so.....what is driving this activity ?

Many Thanks



Neil

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 21/03/2008 17:16:22

The moon is quite seismically active.  the following references are easily found and should give you more information you need

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_15/experiments/ps/


http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/15mar_moonquakes.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_landing


One of the first instruments ever landed on the moon was a seismometer and the manned landings placed several others there.  there are plans in the pileline to do this again with UK spacecraft.


Stuff hitting the moon is one of the effects there are also the thermal effects due to thelarge heating and cooling of the surface by the sun as the moon rotates.  There are also tidal effects as the moon rocks backwards and forwards due to the ellipticity of its orbit.

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: neilep on 21/03/2008 23:07:29

THANK YOU IAN ...and thank you for the great links too.


Does the moon have any cave systems that we know of ?

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 22/03/2008 09:50:21

I do not know of any attempt to detect voids in the structure most would require contact with the surface locally,  Clearly the sort of limestone caverns we get on the earth are not possible. No limestone, no running water.  It is quite likely that violent impacts create voids between large lumps of rock or the varous sorts of volcanic caves are possible.

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: lyner on 24/03/2008 09:26:21

The Moon is too small for any significant nuclear activity in its core so the sort of convectional driving force that the Earth has is not there. You would only expect a relatively small amount of seismic activity. Tidal forces and 1kW / sq metre from the Sun don't involve anything like as much energy.

Title: Is The Moon A Dead Body ?....Moon Quakes ?..Tectonic Activity ?
Post by: neilep on 24/03/2008 18:41:13

Thank you IAN with regard to my cave question and thank you Sophiecentaur for your wonderful post too.

Much appreciated

neil