Indian Lunar Spacecraft Records Impact of Solar Flares on Moon for First Time

India’s Chandrayaan-2 orbiter has, for the first time, recorded the degree of solar coronal mass ejection impact on the Moon’s surface in real time. The observation, conducted using a special instrument, showed that the pressure and density of the lunar exosphere increased more than tenfold, according to TV BRICS.

According to the agency, the lunar exosphere is an extremely rarefied atmosphere where atoms and molecules hardly interact with one another. It is formed under the influence of solar radiation, solar wind, and meteorite impacts on the surface. During coronal mass ejections, significant volumes of helium and hydrogen ions are directed towards the Moon, directly affecting the release of particles from the surface and increasing the pressure in the exosphere.

The Indian scientists’ observation has confirmed the theory of solar flare impact on the lunar atmosphere. Researchers believe the data will help improve understanding of the exosphere and the effects of space weather on the Earth’s satellite, as well as prove crucial for future astronaut missions to the Moon.

The results of the study are also of practical importance for building scientific bases on the Moon. Such extreme solar phenomena can temporarily alter the lunar environment, a factor that must be taken into account in designing facilities and planning research activities.

Chandrayaan-2 is the second automatic interplanetary station launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to study the Moon. It was launched in 2019.

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