News Planetary Science

Ice at the moon’s poles might have come from ancient volcanoes

The eruptions may have produced several transient atmospheres

Schrödinger crater on the moon

Schrödinger crater (shown) lies near the moon’s south pole. Ice might have arrived at both lunar poles as water vapor released by ancient volcanic eruptions.

NASA GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio

By Anna Gibbs

Four billion years ago, lava spilled onto the moon’s crust, etching the man in the moon we see today. But the volcanoes may have also left a much colder legacy: ice.