{"id":290737,"date":"2025-09-25T02:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/get-involved\/citizen-science\/help-map-the-moons-molten-flows\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T02:00:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:00:37","slug":"help-map-the-moons-molten-flows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=290737","title":{"rendered":"Help Map the Moon\u2019s Molten Flows!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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1 min read<\/p>\n

Help Map the Moon\u2019s Molten Flows!<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"moon<\/a><\/figure>
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Cooled, lava-like flows of impact melt that streamed out of Little Lowell Crater. As a volunteer for the Lunar Melt Citizen Science Project, you\u2019ll help identify and measure rocks and craters in images like this one.<\/div>\n
Credit: NASA\/GSFC\/Arizona State University<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When asteroids hit the Moon, the impacts carve out craters<\/a> and with enough energy and pressure, melt parts of the rocky surface. Often, the white hot, gooey melt (it\u2019s like lava, except that it doesn\u2019t erupt from underground) sloshes around the new crater and surrounding regions. The molten rock cools and hardens into vast rock features called impact melt flow deposits. These flow deposits are sculpture-like abstract art with beautiful lines and textures.<\/p>\n

Now, scientists at the Lunar Melt citizen science project<\/a> are asking for your help mapping these flows. You\u2019ll be marking rocks, measuring the lengths of boulders, and outlining craters and melt deposits in images from NASA\u2019s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Your contributions will help reveal how impact melt has changed the Moon\u2019s surface, especially around Little Lowell Crater and Tycho Crater, and help scientists use impact melt flows to learn about the moon\u2019s interior.<\/p>\n

Help planetary scientists map the geology of lava-like flows on the Moon! Sign up at mappers.psi.edu<\/a>, and tell your friends!<\/p>\n

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