A photo from open sources Detailed analysis of topographic data showed that the moon is not round at all. Scientists say in their own way The natural satellite of our planet is more like a lemon. The new data also helped to better understand natural processes, associated with the formation of the moon. Study was published 30 July in the scientific journal Nature. The study was led by Ian Garrick-Betell, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences University of California at Santa Cruz. If you imagine rotating ball with water, then it will begin to align at the poles, and create a bulge at the equator. Tides due to gravitational pull of the Earth, give the moon the shape of a lemon, – explained the planetologist. Moon formed about four billion years ago. Initially, it was much closer to Earth than it is now and spun faster. Crust cooling and hardening terrestrial tidal forces forced the moon to take an elongated shape with a bulge directed towards our planet is said in article. At the same time, the Earth’s gravitational forces warmed up the core Moon, which led to heterogeneity of the thickness of the lunar crust. At the poles it has a thinner surface than at the equator. In the past the moon It looked different. The displacement of the masses changed its spatial orientation. This happened due to the formation of craters and internal changes in the period of volcanic activity on the moon, – added Garrick Betell. Scientists are closely studying the moon. According to NASA space agency, it can be used as the haven of astronauts.
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