The Moon Has a Tiny Metallic Core

The Moon isn’t hollow, but it isn’t solid either. Deep inside is a small metallic heart. It’s surprisingly complex.

The Moon has a core made of iron with small amounts of sulfur and nickel. It’s much smaller relative to its size than Earth’s core. There’s likely a solid inner core and a partially molten outer layer. This was confirmed using seismic data and laser ranging. The core explains weak magnetic remnants. It also hints at early lunar dynamo activity.

Why This Matters

This matters because cores drive magnetic fields. Understanding why the Moon’s field faded helps explain planetary magnetism. That includes why Earth stayed protected.

It also refines formation models. Core size supports the giant impact theory. Internal structure tells origin stories.

Did You Know?

The Moon’s core is only about 20% of its radius. Earth’s core is more than half.

Source

NASA [nasa.gov]

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