Water on the Moon? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 11-13-2009, 11:29 AM

It could be "as much as lake Erie."

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/technology&id=7115067

Graplr · #2 11-13-2009, 12:10 PM

NASA LCROSS better have a big announcement. I'm a bit ticked of about not being able to see any plume from the crash landing as they told everyone around the world to look for. I had the camera hooked up to the telescope and about 50 people here at the observatory watching it live. We noticed nothing at the time of the impact...just like every one else watching it. They need to redeem themselves!

Considering the Moon is about 1% of Earth's mass, an amount of water in the range of Lake Erie amounts would be sizeable.

pj67coll · #3 11-13-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

NASA LCROSS better have a big announcement. I'm a bit ticked of about not being able to see any plume from the crash landing as they told everyone around the world to look for. I had the camera hooked up to the telescope and about 50 people here at the observatory watching it live. We noticed nothing at the time of the impact...just like every one else watching it. They need to redeem themselves!

Considering the Moon is about 1% of Earth's mass, an amount of water in the range of Lake Erie amounts would be sizeable.

What size scope do you have?

- Peter.

Kuan · #4 11-13-2009, 11:11 PM

Oh. Hmm... it's "about a dozen, two-gallon bucketfuls."

Graplr · #5 11-14-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

What size scope do you have?

- Peter.

14" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain Reflector.

No one saw anything. Even the Palomar scope which is HUGE didn't see anything. NASA had said anyone with a 8" scope or larger should see the plume.

Mike D · #6 11-14-2009, 08:24 AM

Hmmm, let's see. Just get us about an 280K mile long flexible straw, start the suction (water does flow downhill ya know!) and wait for the water to arrive! Of course, the fact the water will be flowing at about a gadzillion miles an hour and would carve a gash into the molten core MIGHT be something to take into consideration.

I wonder if "lunar water" would be lighter? I mean, everything else weighs only 1/6th of what it does on the Earth. (just kidding, I was actually awake during Science classes).

#7 11-14-2009, 09:57 AM

Interesting, if you send people to the moon with a power source (small reactor) and put them near the water they will have water, power, O2, and a way to make rocket fuel to go elsewhere. It takes much less energy to leave the moon's gravitational field for an interplanetary mission; that's why a "moon base" is so attractive.

pj67coll · #8 11-14-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Interesting, if you send people to the moon with a power source (small reactor) and put them near the water they will have water, power, O2, and a way to make rocket fuel to go elsewhere. It takes much less energy to leave the moon's gravitational field for an interplanetary mission; that's why a "moon base" is so attractive.

Except that the water is bound up in rocks and not easily accessible. So you'd need a lot of base infrastructure simply to get at it to begin with. A mining setup in fact. Not much chance of that in the near future I'm afraid although I certainly would like to see it myself.

- Peter.

link · #9 11-14-2009, 11:49 AM

Maybe. The moon is believed to have a molten core. If true, digging a little way in the right locations would yield liquid water.

strelnik · #10 11-14-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

Maybe. The moon is believed to have a molten core. If true, digging a little way in the right locations would yield liquid water.

True, but the creatures who live inside the Moon would be very upset with you.

rev.22:12 · #11 11-14-2009, 11:57 AM

i knew theyd find it... it was just a matter of time.
i dont know much about astronomy or the creation of earth but wasnt our earthly water delivered via meteor?

#12 11-14-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Except that the water is bound up in rocks and not easily accessible. So you'd need a lot of base infrastructure simply to get at it to begin with. A mining setup in fact. Not much chance of that in the near future I'm afraid although I certainly would like to see it myself.

- Peter.

Yup, but once you have the resource the rest is just engineering.

MTI · #13 11-14-2009, 01:28 PM

Have they determined if it's fizzy? It's a lot more valuable if it's fizzy.

Joseph_Conrad · #14 11-14-2009, 02:47 PM

Speaking of mining on the moon, I have a movie recommendation for this thread. The movie Moon starring Sam Rockwell, it came out early this year and is now on dvd. Great flick! Completely relevant here, me thinks.

pj67coll · #15 11-14-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph_Conrad

Speaking of mining on the moon, I have a movie recommendation for this thread. The movie Moon starring Sam Rockwell, it came out early this year and is now on dvd. Great flick! Completely relevant here, me thinks.

Damm! I wanted to see that but it never showed up in theaters around here. I expect I'll have to get it on DVD.

- Peter.