Impact Vaporization Identified as Key to Moon's Atmosphere

New research reveals meteorite bombardment as the primary process sustaining the Moon's exosphere over billions of years.

Scientists used isotopic analysis of Apollo lunar soil samples to determine the dominant atmospheric process.
Meteorite impacts vaporize lunar soil, releasing atoms that form and replenish the Moon's thin atmosphere.
Impact vaporization accounts for approximately 70% of the Moon's exosphere, with ion sputtering contributing the rest.
The findings underscore the importance of continued sample return missions for understanding planetary atmospheres.
The study's results were published in the journal Science Advances.