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The Moon has an atmosphere, but it is very tenuous. Gases in the lunar atmosphere are easily lost to space. Because of the Moon's low gravity, light atoms such as helium receive enough energy from solar heating so that they escape in just a few hours. Heavier atoms take longer to escape, but are ultimately ionized by the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, after which they are carried away from the Moon by the solar wind. This process takes a few months. Because of the rate at which atoms escape from the lunar atmosphere, there must be a continuous source of particles to maintain even a tenuous atmosphere. Sources for the lunar atmosphere include capture of particles from the solar wind and of material released from the impact of comets and meteorites. For some atoms, particularly helium-4 and argon-40, outgassing from the Moon's interior may also be a source.
Originally posted by earth2
What would it take to create a moon atmoshere, is it possible?
Its the right distance from the sun and I think there is water on it. Thats a good start.
What could be done to create an atmosphere? Atomic bombs, some kind of atmosphere machine?
Mars is to far away from the sun, its to cold.
Mars is to far away from the sun, its to cold.
One curious detail is that the lunar atmosphere is much denser at night (when it is cooler) and also the composition changes: the Argon condenses out at sunset and is only released again in the morning; the small amount of Carbon Dioxide also freezes out and there is a strong tendency for the atmosphere to migrate across the terminator from the day to the night side.
Originally posted by blue bird
Venus has no magnetic field ( you can throw away your precious compass )- but a very, very thick atmosphere!
Spacecraft observations do show that Venus is not completely inert as a magnetic body. As the solar wind collides with the upper atmosphere, it causes electrical currents to flow in the Venusian ionosphere. These flowing currents generate their own weak magnetism, which spacecraft can detect as a comet-like magnetic 'wake' trailing behind the planet opposite the Sun.
Originally posted by Dae
Venus does have a magnet field, they call it an 'induced' magnetosphere, which basically means it a reaction as opposed to the regular magnetic fields planets have.
Originally posted by Now_Then
The moon is too small to hold on to a useful atmosphere, and I don't think its would be at all practical to fiddle with the super thin one that is there already.
It would be far simpler and quicker to put up large Biomes like these. They can conceivably be made to massive proportions, especially in low gravity, and proximity to the sun in the same as earth of course growing vegetation shouldn't be to hard
[edit on 12/6/2007 by Now_Then]
Originally posted by earth2
How would they handle a meteor shower I wonder?
Looks extremely cool though.