According to scientists, when the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the globe in early 2020, the Moon also experienced a significant and sudden drop in temperature.
A report published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters details that scientists from the Physics Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, India, observed and recorded temperature variations occurring on the surface of the Moon near Earth during that period.
The Moon. (PHOTO: NASA).
Specifically, they discovered an unusual decrease in temperature at six observation points on the Moon during this time.
Experts believe that this phenomenon occurred due to human activity being restricted as governments implemented lockdown measures, leading to a significant reduction in radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface, which in turn caused a drop in the Moon’s surface temperature.
During the day, the Moon faces radiation from the Sun. However, at night, the Moon only receives radiation from Earth, and the intensity of this radiation has been shown to impact the surface temperature of the Earth’s natural satellite.
Previous studies have also indicated that nighttime temperatures on the Moon can fluctuate depending on the amount of radiation emitted from Earth.
“Therefore, our research indicates that the Moon likely experienced significant effects during the implementation of Covid-19 lockdown measures, as evidenced by the unusual drop in nighttime surface temperature on the Moon”, the team of scientists concluded.
The report also suggests that scientists can use the surface of “Lady Moon” as a perfect testing ground to study the effects of climate change occurring on Earth.
