Potential for prebiotic chemistry at the poles of the Moon

Paul G. Lucey

doi:10.1117/12.411612

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29 December 2000 Potential for prebiotic chemistry at the poles of the Moon

Paul G. Lucey

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Proceedings Volume 4137, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology III; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.411612
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The samples returned from the lunar surface by Apollo were devoid of organic material, an observation that satisfied the scientific community that the Moon is irrelevant to the topic of life in the universe. However, the equatorial regions of the Moon sampled by Apollo and Luna are not representative of the Moon as a whole. The lunar poles harbor a microenvironment which possess conditions utterly unlike those of the lunar equator. These conditions may allow in situ production of organics on the Moon from indigenous inorganic material. If this is the case, the Moon may allow field-testing of models of inorganic synthesis which have been invoked for many surfaces in the solar system, and even interstellar clouds.

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Paul G. Lucey "Potential for prebiotic chemistry at the poles of the Moon", Proc. SPIE 4137, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology III, (29 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.411612

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