ʀᴜssɪᴀɴ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ 𝟷𝟿𝟽𝟶 ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ

ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ɴᴇᴡ. ʜ. ɢ. ᴡᴇʟʟs (𝟷𝟾𝟼𝟼–𝟷𝟿𝟺𝟼), ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ “ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴏғ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ғɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ,” ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴇᴘɪᴄ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪɴ ʜɪs 𝟷𝟿𝟶𝟷 ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ “ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴍᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ.” ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ’s ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴀʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ. ɪᴛ ɪs, ɪɴ ғᴀᴄᴛ, ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ ᴇx̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ. ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ 𝟷𝟿𝟶𝟷, sᴜᴄʜ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsɪᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴅᴀʀɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇ ʜʏᴘᴏᴛʜᴇsɪs ᴏғ ᴀ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ғᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴇғɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ 𝟼𝟶 ʏᴇᴀʀs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ? sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ sᴇɪsᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ʙʏ ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢs. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪᴄᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ ᴠɪʙʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs. sᴇɪsᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛ ᴅᴀᴛᴀ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ’s ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴇɴsᴏʀs ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟷, 𝟷𝟸, 𝟷𝟺, 𝟷𝟻, ᴀɴᴅ 𝟷𝟼 ᴍɪssɪᴏɴs ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴅᴀᴛᴀ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀ ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ ᴄʜᴀɴɴᴇʟ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ 𝟷𝟿𝟽𝟽, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴᴀɴᴄɪᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴛs.

ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴀɪᴀ, “ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏsᴍᴏɴᴀᴜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴀ sᴇʀɪᴇs ᴏғ ᴀʟsᴇᴘs, ᴏʀ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴀᴄᴋᴀɢᴇs, ᴛᴏ sᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴄᴄᴇʟᴇʀᴏᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴅᴇᴛᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ʀᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ sʜᴏᴛɢᴜɴ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴜᴍᴇʀᴏᴜs ɢʀᴇɴᴀᴅᴇ ʟᴀᴜɴᴄʜᴇʀs ᴛᴏ sᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ sᴇɪsᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜs ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴅᴇᴛᴏɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ʀᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ sʜᴏᴛɢᴜɴ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ ɢʀᴇɴᴀᴅᴇs.” ɴᴀsᴀ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʀᴀsʜᴇᴅ-ʟᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟸 ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴇ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ s-ɪᴠʙ ʀᴏᴄᴋᴇᴛ, ᴇxᴘʟᴏᴅɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴇǫᴜɪᴠᴀʟᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏxɪᴍᴀᴛᴇʟʏ 𝟷𝟸 ᴛᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴛɴᴛ.”

ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢs ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ’s ɪɴᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴘᴇᴄɪғɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴍᴏᴏɴǫᴜᴀᴋᴇs. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴏᴄᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴀᴛᴇɢᴏʀɪᴢᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ғᴏᴜʀ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘs:
ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴍᴏᴏɴǫᴜᴀᴋᴇs (𝟽𝟶𝟶 ᴋɪʟᴏᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ); ᴠɪʙʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs (ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴇᴛᴇᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴀᴄᴛs); ᴛʜᴇʀᴍᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴏɴǫᴜᴀᴋᴇs; sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴍᴏᴏɴǫᴜᴀᴋᴇs (𝟸𝟶-𝟹𝟶 ᴋᴍ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ).

ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ғᴇᴡ ᴍɪɴᴏʀ ᴍᴏᴏɴǫᴜᴀᴋᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ ᴏғ ᴀ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ “ʀᴀɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴇʟʟ” ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛs. ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟʟᴏ 𝟷𝟸 ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀs ғʀᴇǫᴜᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴜsᴇᴅ. ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛs ɪᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇ 𝟸.𝟻-ᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ-ᴏғғ sᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴇʟɪʙᴇʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴅʀᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ.

sᴇɪsᴍᴏʟᴏɢɪsᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴀʙᴀᴄᴋ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇɴɢᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴇᴠᴇʀɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇɪsᴍɪᴄ ᴅɪsᴛᴜʀʙᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏᴄᴋ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ sɪɢɴᴀʟs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴀsᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʜᴀʟғ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇᴀᴋᴇʀ sɪɢɴᴀʟs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇᴅ ʟᴇss ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ ᴀғᴛᴇʀᴡ̳ᴀ̳ʀ̳ᴅ. ɪᴛ’s ʜᴀʀᴅʟʏ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏʟᴋs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴀs sᴏʟɪᴅ ᴀs ᴍᴀɪɴsᴛʀᴇᴀᴍ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴇs.
sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛɪᴇᴛʜ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴜʀʏ’s ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴇᴍɪɴᴇɴᴛ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ᴀɴ ᴀ̳ʟ̳ɪ̳ᴇ̳ɴ̳ sᴘᴀᴄᴇsʜɪᴘ. ᴠᴀsɪɴ-sʜᴄʜᴇʀʙᴀᴋᴏᴠ’s ᴛʜᴇᴏʀʏ ɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ’s ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡᴀs sᴜɢɢᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ sᴀᴛᴇʟʟɪᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ, ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ɪɴ ɴᴇᴀʀ-ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴏʀʙɪᴛ ʙʏ ᴇx̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ᴀ̳ᴛ̳ᴇ̳ʀ̳ʀ̳ᴇ̳s̳ᴛ̳ʀ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ʟ̳s, ɪɴ ᴀ 𝟷𝟿𝟽𝟶 ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ʙʏ ᴍɪᴋʜᴀɪʟ ᴠᴀsɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟᴇxᴀɴᴅᴇʀ sʜᴄʜᴇʀʙᴀᴋᴏᴠ. ᴠᴀsɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴄʜᴇʀʙᴀᴋᴏᴠ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇᴍʏ ᴏғ sᴄɪᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴠɪᴇᴛ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴛɪᴄʟᴇ, ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴀʟ ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴀ sᴘᴜᴛɴɪᴋ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀʀʏ ᴅɪɢᴇsᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴠɪᴇᴛ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ.

ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀʀᴛɪᴄʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴀʏ ᴡʜᴏ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʟᴀᴜɴᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴛɪғɪᴄɪᴀʟ sᴀᴛᴇʟʟɪᴛᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ’s ᴏʀʙɪᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴇssᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴɢʀᴇᴅɪᴇɴᴛs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ʜᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ᴅᴜʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜsᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇᴛᴇᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ʜɪᴛs.

ғᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀᴍᴏʀᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɪssᴜᴇs ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ’s ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇss. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴏғ ʙᴀᴄᴋʟᴀsʜ ғᴏʀ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ sᴏ.

ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʟʟ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ’s sᴜɴɪᴛɪ ᴋᴀʀᴜɴᴀᴛɪʟʟᴀᴋᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴍᴇᴛʜᴏᴅs ғᴏʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴɪɴɢ ᴍᴀss ᴅɪsᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ʙᴏᴅʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴇɴᴛᴀɪʟs ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ɪɴᴇʀᴛɪᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇᴀs ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇs sᴇɪsᴍɪᴄ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢs. “ᴏɴᴇ sᴜᴄʜ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴘᴏʟᴀʀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ɪɴᴇʀᴛɪᴀ, ɪs 𝟶.𝟹𝟿𝟹 /-𝟶.𝟶𝟶𝟷, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ɴᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀ sᴏʟɪᴅ ᴏʙᴊᴇᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʀᴀᴅɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴅᴇɴsɪᴛʏ (𝟶.𝟺; ғᴏʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀɪsᴏɴ, ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ’s ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇ ɪs 𝟶.𝟹𝟹),” ᴋᴀʀᴜɴᴀᴛɪʟʟᴀᴋᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ. ɪɴ ᴛᴇʀᴍs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ, ʜᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴀsɪᴅᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛᴀʀʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴏɴ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sᴜʙsᴛᴀɴᴛɪᴀʟ sᴇɪsᴍɪᴄ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʀᴇsᴛʀɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪᴄᴋɴᴇss ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ’s ᴄʀᴜsᴛ, ᴍᴀɴᴛʟᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏʀᴇ, ɪɴᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ. ᴋᴀʀᴇɴ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴘᴏʀᴛsᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴇsᴛᴀʙʟɪsʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ’s ᴍᴀss ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇʜᴀᴠɪᴏʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛs ɢʀᴀᴠɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ғɪᴇʟᴅ. ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇɴsɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɪᴛs ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴀʙʟᴇ sɪᴢᴇ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ sᴛʀᴏɴɢʟʏ ʀᴇғᴜᴛᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡ.

ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴄʜɪɴᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇʟᴛ ʀᴏᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄᴀᴠᴇʀɴs ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ, sᴘʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʟᴛᴇɴ ᴅᴇʙʀɪs ᴏɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ, ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sʜᴄʜᴇʀʙᴀᴋᴏᴠ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴀsɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴘʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ʜᴜʟʟ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪɴɴᴇʀ sʜᴇʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʀᴇᴄᴏɴsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛᴇʀ sʜᴇʟʟ ᴏғ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟʟɪᴄ ʀᴏᴄᴋʏ ᴛʀᴀsʜ. ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ ᴠᴇʜɪᴄʟᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴀɴᴇᴜᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴏʀʙɪᴛ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇᴅ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪғɪᴄ ᴇᴠɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍs. sᴏᴍᴇ ʟᴜɴᴀʀ ʀᴏᴄᴋs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇssᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙʀᴀss ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴜʀᴀɴɪᴜᴍ 𝟸𝟹𝟼 ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴘᴛᴜɴɪᴜᴍ 𝟸𝟹𝟽. sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢʟʏ, ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴇʀᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ғᴀʀ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴏɴ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ᴠᴇʜɪᴄʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴏᴀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ, ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴢᴜʟᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀғʀɪᴄᴀɴ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs sᴀɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀ̳ᴇ̳ᴘ̳ᴛ̳ɪ̳ʟ̳ɪ̳ᴀ̳ɴ̳s’ “ɢɪᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ-sʜɪᴘ,” ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ɪs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴛᴀᴄʟʏsᴍs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ “ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ғʟᴏᴏᴅ,” ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʙʏ ᴍᴀɴɪᴘᴜʟᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏsᴍɪᴄ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛs.

ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴘᴀɴᴋᴜ, ᴀᴄᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴀᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ, sᴛᴏʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ɢɪᴀɴᴛ ғɪʀᴇ ᴅʀᴀɢᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ‘ʏᴏʟᴋ’ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɢɢ-ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴀᴛᴇʟʟɪᴛᴇ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ sᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴏʀʙɪᴛ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ. ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜsʟʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟᴏʙᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴠᴇɪʟ ᴏғ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀʏ ᴍɪsᴛ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴏɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏʀʙɪᴛ.

“ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴇᴀsɪᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏɴ-ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɪᴛs ᴇxɪsᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ,” ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴅ ғᴏʀᴍᴇʀ ɴᴀsᴀ sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛ ʀᴏʙɪɴ ʙʀᴇᴛᴛ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛᴏ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛɪɢᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴇs ᴏɴ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ʀᴏᴄᴋs. ғᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀᴍᴏʀᴇ, sᴄɪᴇɴᴛɪsᴛs ᴇsᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɪs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟾𝟶𝟶,𝟶𝟶𝟶 ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴘᴏsᴇs sᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs.