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NASA Images Reveal 10,000 Young Faults on the Moon. That’s a Problem
Gizmodo ^ | October 15, 2026, | Gayoung Lee

Posted on 10/15/2026 5:42:16 PM PDT by BenLurkin

een from Earth, the Moon looks so bright and peaceful. But on closer inspection, the lunar surface is etched with crinkles that also happen to be active faults—whose appearance and behavior may be more unexpected than scientists thought.

In a study published yesterday in The Planetary Science Journal, scientists report the identification of more than 10,000 young faults across the lunar surface. The team referenced images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), specifically its images of ridges and long, curvy structures called lobate scarps. These features form as a result of a celestial body’s contraction, in this case the Moon. From the analysis, the researchers concluded that the moon’s radius has shrunk by roughly 148 feet (45 meters) in the past 400 million years.


(Excerpt) Read more at gizmodo.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: greencheese; moon; moonfaults; moonquake
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1 posted on 10/15/2026 5:42:16 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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“Unlike Earth’s multi-plate surface, the Moon is a single chunk—an “unbroken shell” where over 10,000 young faults can erupt into moonquakes at any time.”


2 posted on 10/15/2026 5:43:13 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

This news will not stop Digger Rockwells scheme to drill and frack the moon for resources.


3 posted on 10/15/2026 5:59:23 PM PDT by BipolarBob
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To: BenLurkin

Onward to Mars...


4 posted on 10/15/2026 6:13:39 PM PDT by GOPJ
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To: BenLurkin

Honey, I shrunk the Moon.


5 posted on 10/15/2026 6:32:21 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: BenLurkin

So that scene in “The Time Machine” where the moon is breaking up…?


6 posted on 10/15/2026 6:35:57 PM PDT by Allegra (I hate the word “literally.” )
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To: BenLurkin
“Unlike Earth’s multi-plate surface, the Moon is a single chunk—an “unbroken shell”

Well, maybe not.

An answer to a lunar mystery: Why is the moon’s gravity so uneven?

7 posted on 10/15/2026 6:40:45 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
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To: BenLurkin

Maybe whatever is inside is hatching.


8 posted on 10/15/2026 6:47:12 PM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: gundog

Sooooo, the Moon isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?


9 posted on 10/15/2026 7:01:26 PM PDT by null and void (Do we vote for the people who want to hurt us, or vote for the people who don’t want to stop them?)
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To: null and void

Omelet that slide....


10 posted on 10/15/2026 7:03:55 PM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: BenLurkin

So, if climate change doesn’t kill us all the moon breaking apart will? How many years do we have left? Oh nooooooo!


11 posted on 10/15/2026 7:05:39 PM PDT by ssapro (SSAPRO/ EXBP)
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To: BenLurkin
has shrunk by roughly 148 feet (45 meters) in the past 400 million years.

This illustrates why I prefer using a measure of feet over meters. The larger foot measurement is always going to be much more impressive than meters. Using meters makes Mt. Everest seem small.

12 posted on 10/15/2026 7:06:00 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: BenLurkin

It’s not my FAULT!


13 posted on 10/15/2026 7:07:57 PM PDT by Rad_J
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To: Rad_J; Darksheare
It’s not my FAULT!

True, it isn't.

It's Darksheare's fault!

14 posted on 10/15/2026 7:10:54 PM PDT by null and void (Do we vote for the people who want to hurt us, or vote for the people who don’t want to stop them?)
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To: gundog

Maybe whatever is inside is hatching.


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6762087_Microcracks_in_Eggs

An experimental program of mechanical testing has shown that microcracks initiate in hens’ eggs at loads less than that necessary to cause total structural failure. In contact loading, computational modeling and numerical analysis show that very high stress levels develop on the inner surface of the eggshell as it conforms to a hard contact surface. This causes a series of microcracks to initiate at the inner surface of the shell and radiate out from the load site. A series of concentric circumferential microcracks also develop beneath the cuticle from the edge of the contact zone. Calculations relating to the eggshells’ dynamic response indicate that microcracks have a little effect on the structural stiffness and resonant frequencies of the egg. As a result, microcracks are unlikely to be detected by online crack detection systems, which rely on mechanical excitation. Eggs in retail outlets are likely to contain microcracks as a result of insults experienced during the collection, grading, and packing processes. Because the eggshell forms the first line of defense against potentially pathogenic microorganisms entering the egg contents, microcracks could potentially compromise egg safety.


maybe


15 posted on 10/15/2026 7:11:46 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple ((Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere))
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To: BenLurkin

Active faults indicate a tectonic planet with plates which Mars did have with certainty. It got cold, the internal magmatism died. The atmosphere was stripped as the planet no longer had a magnetic field. The once atmosphere that was conducive to life was striped into space.

At this same time Earth was much closer to the sun and perhaps not good for life as due to extreme temperature or not.

Perhaps Mars was the first life in our solar system.

I am an old man with degrees in several sciences, engineering, geology, pharmacy, and oddly aviation. I wish these questions be solved before I die.


16 posted on 10/15/2026 8:55:36 PM PDT by cpdiii
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To: BenLurkin

Active faults indicate a tectonic planet with plates which Mars did have with certainty. It got cold, the internal magmatism died. The atmosphere was stripped as the planet no longer had a magnetic field. The once atmosphere that was conducive to life was striped into space.

At this same time Earth was much closer to the sun and perhaps not good for life as due to extreme temperature or not.

Perhaps Mars was the first life in our solar system.

I am an old man with degrees in several sciences, engineering, geology, pharmacy, and oddly aviation. I wish these questions be solved before I die.


17 posted on 10/15/2026 9:22:59 PM PDT by cpdiii
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To: ssapro
So, if climate change doesn't kill us all the moon breaking apart will? How many years do we have left? Oh nooooooo!

Relax. According to The Prophecy I watched as a child it was suppose to happen in 1994. Since we do not have wizards running around it is safe to say that time line was adverted.

18 posted on 10/15/2026 9:26:23 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (I just want FReepers to READ THE ARTICLE. And then think 30 secs before pounding keyboard.)
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To: BenLurkin

When they look at Uranus, they’ll find a giant crack.


19 posted on 10/16/2026 3:10:09 AM PDT by Old Yeller
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

We can just encircle the moon with giant rolls of duct tape. Or squirt Gorilla glue into the faults. No problem.


20 posted on 10/16/2026 3:19:46 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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