There’s more water on the moon than once believed—and that could be a good thing for future astronauts. Scientists already knew ice was hidden within the moon’s cold, dark craters. But new evidence shows water exists on sunny areas of the moon too.
NASA scientists were able to detect water using an aircraft named SOFIA. It’s equipped with a telescope that senses infrared light—invisible heat energy—which allows researchers to detect molecules, including those which make up water. It turns out, the water molecules on the moon’s sunny surface are spread so far apart they do not form a liquid or gas.
The discovery is surprising, says astronomer and study leader Casey Honniball. “We thought that any water on the sunlit lunar surface would just be lost to space.” Scientists still aren’t sure what’s causing water to remain on sunny areas of the moon. But they’re excited by the findings. NASA plans to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024 as part of its Artemis project. These men and women might drink, wash with, and brush their teeth with moon water!