NASA Telescope Detects Water Molecules on Moon's Sunlit Surface
NASA's SOFIA airborne telescope confirms the presence of water on the sunlit lunar surface for the first time. The discovery in Clavius Crater suggests water is more widespread across the Moon than previously thought.
NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) confirms the presence of water molecules on the sunlit surface of the Moon for the first time. The airborne telescope detects this water in Clavius Crater, a large crater located in the Moon's southern hemisphere. Unlike previous observations that only identified hydrogen without distinguishing between water and hydroxyl, SOFIA unambiguously identifies H2O in the lunar soil.
The detected water exists in very small concentrations, measuring between 100 and 412 parts per million, which is roughly equivalent to a 12-ounce bottle of water trapped in a cubic meter of soil. While the Sahara desert contains 100 times more moisture than the lunar soil, the mere presence of water in sunlit areas challenges previous assumptions that water only exists in cold, permanently shadowed craters. This finding raises new questions about how water forms and survives on the harsh, airless lunar surface.
This discovery provides a vital boost for NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the end of the decade. Water serves as a precious resource for deep space exploration because it supports life and can potentially be converted into rocket fuel. Researchers now focus on determining whether this accessible lunar water is practical for use by future astronauts.