The Moon has a solid iron core, similar to Earth's.

After more than 50 years, scientists have confirmed that the Moon's internal structure consists of a liquid outer core and a solid inner core, rich in iron.

The Moon's internal structure consists of a thin crust, a very thick mantle, a viscous mantle-core junction, a liquid outer core, and a solid inner core. (Image: Geoazur/Nicolas Sarter)

A research team from the University of Côte d'Azur and the Institute for Astromechanics and Calculus (IMCCE) in France detailed their new findings in the journal Nature , Live Science reported on May 6.

Astronomers had wondered about the Moon's structure long before any spacecraft landed. The first clues suggesting the celestial body had an interior similar to Earth came from NASA's Apollo missions, which took place between 1961 and 1972. According to data collected by the landers' instruments, the Moon was layered, with a denser layer of material in the center and a less dense layer near the surface.

Recently, scientists have been able to study the vast datasets from the Apollo missions and other spacecraft to gain a clearer picture of the Moon's internal structure. In 2011, NASA research showed that the Moon's outer core is composed of liquid iron, forming a molten layer where it contacts the mantle. The research also suggested that the Moon's inner core may contain more iron.

New research in May of this year confirmed the existence of this solid inner core. Using a detailed computer model built on geological data from NASA's Apollo program and GRAIL missions, the team of experts determined that the inner core has a diameter of approximately 500 km, which is 15% the width of the Moon. Such a small size may have been the reason scientists had difficulty detecting it.

Additionally, the study also found the first evidence of mantle inversion on the Moon – a process where warmer, molten material rises through the mantle. This could explain the presence of iron on the Moon's surface.

A deeper understanding of the Moon's inner workings could help scientists shed more light on the celestial body's geological mysteries, such as what happened to its once strong magnetic field. While the Moon doesn't have a magnetic field today, soil and rock samples suggest that this natural satellite once had a magnetic field as strong as Earth's. As agencies and private space companies prepare for new lunar missions this decade, scientists will gather even more data.

Thu Thao (According to Space )

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