Magnetic Field of The Moon
Magnetic Field of The Moon
Total magnetic field strength at the surface of the Moon as derived from the Lunar Prospector electron
reflectometer experiment.
The magnetic field of the Moon is very weak in comparison to that of the Earth. Other major
differences are that the Moon does not currently have a dipolar magnetic field (as would be
generated by a geodynamo in its core) and the varying magnetization that is present is almost
entirely crustal in origin. One hypothesis holds that the crustal magnetizations were acquired early in
lunar history when a geodynamo was still operating. An analysis of magnetized moon rocks brought
to Earth by Apollo astronauts showed that the Moon must have had a strong (above 110 uT)
[1]
magnetic field at least 4.25 billion years ago, which then fell to 20 uT level in the 3.6 - 3.1 billion
years BP period.[2] The small size of the lunar core, however, is a potential obstacle to promoting that
hypothesis to the status of theory. Alternatively, it is possible that on an airless body such as the
Moon, transient magnetic fields could be generated during large impact events. In support of this, it
has been noted that the largest crustal magnetizations appear to be located near the antipodes of
the giant impact basins. It has been proposed that such a phenomenon could result from the free
expansion of an impact-generated plasma cloud around the Moon in the presence of an ambient
magnetic field.[3] For example, the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft mapped a "mini-magnetosphere" at
the Crisium antipode on the Moon's far side, using its Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA)
instrument. The mini-magnetosphere is 360 km across at the surface and is surrounded by a 300-
km-thick region of enhanced plasma flux that results from the solar wind flowing around the mini-
magnetosphere.[4]
There is growing evidence that fine particles of moondust might actually float, ejected from the lunar
surface by electrostatic repulsion. This could create a temporary nighttime "atmosphere" of dust. The
moondust atmosphere might also gather itself into a sort of diaphanous wind. Drawn by differences
in global charge accumulation, floating dust would naturally fly from the strongly negative nightside
to the weakly negative dayside. This "dust storm" effect would be strongest at the Moon's terminator.
Much of these details are still speculative, but the Lunar Prospector spacecraft detected changes in
the lunar nightside voltage during magnetotail crossings, jumping from -200 V to -1000 V. Further
characterization was done by the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer orbiter in late
2013.[5][6]
The plasma sheet is a very dynamic structure, in a constant state of motion, so as the Moon orbits
through the magnetotail the plasma sheet can sweep across it many times with encounters lasting
anywhere from minutes to hours or even days.[7]
In fiction[edit]
In the Space Odyssey series by Arthur C. Clarke, a monolith is found on the Moon near the
crater Tycho by its unnaturally powerful magnetic field and named Tycho Magnetic Anomaly 1 (TMA-
1).[8]