GRAIL

The huge South Pole-Aitken basin on the Moon can be seen in this topographical map, as blue areas represent lower regions. The white dotted outline shows the location of the mass anomaly

Space

Huge metallic anomaly detected buried beneath the Moon's largest crater

The South Pole-Aitken basin on the Moon is the largest impact crater in the solar system, measuring about 2,500 km (1,550 mi) across at its widest point. And now scientists have detected something strange buried under the crater.

An illustration of a collision between two huge celestial bodies, similar to that now theorized to have given the Moon its asymmetrical face

Space

How a huge impact may have given the Moon two faces

Observations have shown that the “back” of the Moon has a thicker crust and an extra layer of material compared to the side that faces Earth. Now, simulations have revealed one possible, explosive explanation – an impact with a huge object early on in the Moon’s life.

Data from NASA's GRAIL mission provided the researchers with the gravity signatures of around 1,200 craters on the far side of the Moon

Space

Study of NASA GRAIL mission data looks to unlock lunar secrets

New MIT research focusing on the gravitational signature of craters on the far side of the Moon is shedding light on the nature and origin of the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB), as well as the earliest life-supporting processes that took place in our solar system.

Artist's concept of the rifts that created the Ocean of Storms (image: NASA/Colorado School of Mines/MIT/JPL/GSFC)

Space

GRAIL mission solves the mystery of the Man in the Moon

Where did the Man in the Moon come from? NASA claims that the answer to the mystery has been found by the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) orbiter mission, which ended with a controlled impact on the Moon in 2012.

Space

GRAIL mission casts new light on the "Man in the Moon"

Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain the existence of the lunar maria and now data from NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar orbiters has provided new insights into how the surface of the Moon formed and how its distinctive “seas” came to be.

Artist's concept of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (Image: NASA)

Space

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter sees GRAIL's lunar impact

NASA has released images and findings from the LRO, which witnessed the GRAIL spacecraft as they struck the Moon.

Still from the JPL GRAIL video (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Space

NASA releases GRAIL video

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory released a video transmitted by the GRAIL lunar orbiters during their final days.

Space

GRAIL spacecraft hit lunar mountain

NASA’s two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft have struck the Moon in a controlled impact.

Space

NASA will crash GRAIL spacecraft into Moon on December 17

NASA confirmed that its two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Spacecraft will crash into a lunar mountain next week.

Variations in the lunar gravity field as measured by NASA's GRAIL mission (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MIT/GSFC)

Space

NASA's GRAIL lunar orbiters produce most detailed gravity map of the Moon

Data from NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) probes has been used to create the highest resolution gravity map yet of any body in the Solar System.