[2 min read] Image: NASA Our closest celestial neighbor, the Moon, continues to surprise us. In a recent discovery, scientists have detected a gigantic "structure" lurking beneath the lunar surface. This anomaly, buried deep under the South Pole-Aitken basin (one of the largest craters in the solar system), is massive – we're talking about something exceeding 2.18 billion kilograms and stretching over 300 kilometers (186 miles) deep and a whopping 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) long! So, what exactly is this hidden giant? Scientists aren't entirely sure yet, but there are two leading theories. One suggests it could be the metallic remains of a colossal asteroid that slammed into the Moon billions of years ago. The impact could have been so powerful that instead of sinking to the Moon's core, the dense metallic core of the asteroid got lodged in the mantle, the layer beneath the lunar crust. Another theory proposes the anomaly might be a result of the Moon's own fiery past. When the Moon was young, it's likely it had a molten surface, a giant "magma ocean." As this ocean cooled and solidified, some of the denser materials, like oxides, could have settled in clumps, forming this massive structure. Further exploration is needed to crack the case of the lunar anomaly. Future missions that collect data directly from the Moon's surface or even drill into the mantle could provide more clues about the composition and origin of this hidden giant. This discovery is exciting because it sheds light on the Moon's formation history and the violent impacts it has endured. It also reminds us that there's still so much to learn about our closest celestial neighbor. The Moon continues to hold secrets waiting to be unraveled, and this anomaly is just the latest chapter in its fascinating story. Editor. Cosmic Web Radio
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