For the first time in a century are a huge crater on the moon – 24 Hours

For the first time in at least a century scientists discovered a large crater on the visible side of the Moon .

This structure was named Amelia Earhart , to honor the first woman who flew alone the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.

The crater is so disturbed by a subsequent impact beyond recognition.

The crater is so disturbed by a subsequent impact beyond recognition.

hole 200 kilometers in diameter was discovered by the probe Grail (acronym of Interior Laboratory and Gravity Recovery), NASA which made a map of the gravitational field of the natural satellite of Earth.

The discovery was made by Rohan Sood, Loic Chappaz and H. Jay Melosh, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, United States .

Earhart was a member of the faculty from 1935 until his death in 1937.

Amelia Earhart set a number of records of flight until it disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the world in a Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft.

Amelia Earhart set a number of records of flight until it disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the world in a Lockheed Electra 10E aircraft.

The results of research were presented at a scientific meeting in Texas, USA, which ended Friday.

Using gravity

“I would say it is probably the first discovery of a crater of this size on the near side of the moon in a century or two, “he told the BBC Melosh.

The discovery was made when researchers sought evidence of the presence of hollow structures beneath the surface of the moon known as lava tubes and volcanic caves .

“The crater probably formed before the Mare Serenitatis, which is right south. Was covered by debris from the formation of Serenitatis, probably destroyed the southern section of the crater rim and modified it completely, “said Melosh.

” No one before recognized as the broken edge of a crater and we we had not recognized unless because gravity clearly shows a large circular anomaly. “

unrecognizable Crater

The mission of the NASA used two small ships to map the gravitational field of the moon.

The mission of the NASA used two small ships to map the gravitational field of the moon.

The mission of the NASA used two small ships to map the gravitational field of the moon.

It is believed that the Serenitatis basin was formed after a giant impact 3,900 million years ago .

For this reason Earhart, which is partially hidden under the rubble must be at least that old. Although not yet know if it is older.

Grail measured variations in the acceleration of gravity, which give us a rough idea of ​​the internal structure of the Moon.

” Some of these variations are due to the topography. Therefore, if there is a mountain, there is an additional acceleration of gravity, “says Melosh.

The researchers used a mathematical correction that removes corresponding to the topography of the lunar surface, to show what’s underneath.

“Based on what we found, could have another 12 craters or more, but their brands were eliminated by the impact of the seas or particles driven out by larger craters, “Sood said.

” (The Earhart crater) has been there all these years, you can see with a small telescope or pair of binoculars. But no one recognized because we did not have this additional fact: the gravity field “

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