The first unambiguous detection of water on the moon was just announced by scientists
It’s official. There is water on the Moon. We assumed there was for almost a decade, based on detections announced in 2009, but the wavelengths used left space for interpretation. Scientists announce the first unambiguous discovery using a distinct wavelength peculiar to water. Those 2009 conclusions appeared to be correct. Because the 2009 detections were produced in the 3-micrometer infrared region, the uncertainty emerged. Water or another hydroxyl molecule containing hydrogen and oxygen were the only options at this wavelength. A team of scientists led by NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre astronomer Casey Honniball sought to investigate the wavelength that may validate or refute such conclusions. The 6-micrometer infrared band should display a line that can only be formed by two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom – the H-O-H bend vibration. However, establishing an unambiguous detection in that spectrum is difficult. It necessitates the use of the Stratospher...