New research says Moon had an atmosphere 3 to 4 billion years ago

Scientists believed that the Moon didn't have an atmosphere. New research has revealed that about 3.5 Billion Years ago, the Moon had an atmosphere, according to Futurism. It turns out that around 4.5 billion years ago, the Moon's surface was covered with magma that released sodium and silica's vapors and later formed an atmosphere but only for a short period of time.

Moon rock samples brought by Apollo missions' astronauts

The surface of Moon is covered with basalt plains (formed by volcanic eruptions) which are known as maria. During Apollo 15 and 17 missions, astronauts collected some samples of these basalt plains, as well as Moon rocks, and brought them back to the earth.

NASA scientists and the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) began studying these samples about a decade ago and found evidence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur and other gases. They also calculated that about 3.8 to 3.5 billion years ago, lunar volcanism occurred on the surface of Moon, Astronomy Magazine reported.

According to new research, the Moon had an atmosphere before the winds destroyed the magnetic field and stripped away sufficient mass from it, which is required to uphold the atmosphere around the celestial bodies. The largest emission, which occurred on the lunar surface, erupted 10 trillion tonnes of gas along with 5.3 million cubic kilometers of lava, New Scientist reported.

NASA research scientist Debra H. Needham said in The New Scientist, that there would have been only wind a "temperature gradient" on the lunar surface.

Lunar atmosphere persisted 70 million years

The new research said that the Lunar Atmosphere on the Moon had been persisting for 70 Million Years before it was escaped from its surface and lost in space.

The Moon was three times closer to Earth during the time when it had an atmosphere, and its appearance would have seemed much larger from our planet earth, according to Futurism.

The researchers said that there were some volatile gases which could be trapped near the lunar poles in the cold shaded area. If correct, astronauts could possibly tap into these deposits which are believed to be currently frozen and utilize them for drinking and growing crops, according to Astronomy Magazine.

These deposits could be used as a fuel to carry out lunar operations and other space exploration programs. One of the biggest advantages of these sources on the Moon's surface is that it would ease expenses in carrying NASA Cargo into space.