Lunar soil
Lunar soil
Lunar soil (pronunciation: /ˈluːnər soʊl/), also known as moon dust, is the fine fraction of the regolith found on the surface of the Moon. The properties of lunar soil are vastly different from terrestrial soil. The term was coined during the Apollo program when astronauts directly sampled the material from the Moon's surface.
Etymology
The term "lunar soil" is derived from the Latin word "luna" meaning "moon" and the Old English word "sóþ" meaning "ground, earth". The term "moon dust" is a more colloquial term, referring to the fine, dust-like particles of rock and mineral that cover the lunar surface.
Composition
Lunar soil is composed of various types of particles including basalt, breccia, and glassy particles heated by meteorite impacts. It also contains tiny fragments of lunar rock, and small amounts of minerals such as ilmenite and anorthite.
Properties
Lunar soil has a number of properties that distinguish it from soil on Earth. It is extremely dry, as there is no water on the Moon's surface. It is also very fine and sticky, due to the absence of weathering and erosion processes that soften and round terrestrial soil particles. Lunar soil is also electrostatically charged, due to the constant bombardment of solar wind, causing it to 'leap' into the air and stick to any surface it comes into contact with.
Related terms
- Regolith: The layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid bedrock. It includes dust, soil, broken rock, and other related materials and is present on Earth, the Moon, Mars, some asteroids, and other terrestrial planets and moons.
- Basalt: A type of igneous rock that makes up much of the lunar soil.
- Breccia: A rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, often found in lunar soil.
- Anorthite: A type of feldspar mineral found in lunar soil.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lunar soil
- Wikipedia's article - Lunar soil
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