The Moon is that world next door, a grey sphere that catches our eye but isn’t nearly as exciting as some of the other worlds out there, like ruddy Mars or brightly striped Jupiter or lava spewing Io. While the Moon may not be the “It” world everyone has fantasies of sending a spacecraft to, it is one we actually have the potential to visit, and have visited in the past. And we\u2019re not just talking about visiting with robotic spacecraft, we’re looking forward to a not-too-distant day when humans can once again look back at Earth from the surface of the Moon.<\/p>\n
With this community science project, we will explore Lunar Impact Melt flows<\/em>. When large enough asteroids hit the Moon, the kinetic energy from the impact will carve out a crater and, in many cases, melt enough rock to send white hot, gooey melt (it’s what we’d call “lava,” except that it didn’t erupt from underground) sloshing around the new crater and surrounding regions. An example of this kind of lunar melt flow appears below. This image comes from near a small crater near Tycho crater. It’s nicknamed Little Lowell Crater, and it’s one of the regions you’ll be mapping!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/MeltyRegionNearTycho.png” title_text=”MeltyRegionNearTycho” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This image shows a very flow-y-looking deposit of once-molten impact melt that flowed out of a crater we\u2019ve nicknamed Little Lowell. This is one of the best examples of very young (less than a few hundred million years old and probably a few 10s of millions of years old) impact melt flows on the Moon. Image Credit: NASA\/ASU\/IM<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#bdc4cf” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|false” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/learn-wp.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/06200746\/Moon.png” alt=”Cartoon Moons by Noel Ruppenthal” title_text=”Moon” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”60%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_heading title=”Lunar Fast Facts” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Related Projects” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”28px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.3em” ul_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Data Source” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”28px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.3em” ul_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Project images are 450 pixels across. This makes them a little more than twice as long as a regulation soccer field.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Related Pages” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”28px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.3em” ul_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Power of Liquid Rock<\/strong><\/p>\n Flowing liquids \u2014 whether that liquid is water, lava, or impact melt \u2014 can carry heavy objects, including chunks of the Moon\u2019s surface! If you find a really huge boulder sitting at the end of a lava or impact melt deposit, that means that the flow was at least strong enough to carry something that massive. Scientists who use computer models to simulate the flow of molten rock use the information on boulder size to estimate the strength of the flow. And, just like how more ice cubes do a better job of cooling your drink, the more solid rocks hanging around in molten rock \u2014 and the closer together they are \u2014 can affect how fast or slow the melt cools into a solid. But there are a lot of rocks. A lot. (You\u2019re going to see this for yourself if you help with this project!) That\u2019s where we need your help to mark the locations of rocks and to tell us the longest dimension on each boulder. When you click on individual rocks, you\u2019re telling future computer code, \u201cHey! You need to account for all these rocks right here and how they affected the flow of molten rock!\u201d<\/p>\n Craters that formed before and after the lunar melt flowed through the region also tell us about the Moon\u2019s history. How big are our craters? Where are they? We need YOU to tell us, because these holes-in-the-ground can affect the path taken by the impact melt when it was molten. And, craters on top of impact melt deposits can tell us how deep the melt is.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Why we need you<\/strong><\/p>\n In this project, we’re going to ask you to map a variety of lunar features. Some of these appear all over the Moon, like craters, boulders, and rocks. Others are specific to regions with lunar melt, such as flows, channels, cracks, and ridges. These are all visually distinct geologic features that we can teach you to recognize.<\/p>\n You might think this is something some computer AI should be able to do, but the truth is, the technology just isn’t there yet. The material on the Moon’s surface comes in different colors and textures (and shadows are always changing). These variations can confuse an AI that can’t differentiate between a level spiral of different-colored materials and a topographic feature that shapes the Moon’s surface.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FarSideCrater-ShadowEffect.jpg” title_text=”FarSideCrater-ShadowEffect” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Reiner Gamma feature on the Moon is likely due to a local magnetic field effecting how the Moon\u2019s surface is weathered over time. This region of the Moon is smooth, but can confuse AI into thinking there is some kind of topographic feature. Credit: NASA\/LRO WAC team<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-13-at-10.40.05\u202fPM-1024×466.png” alt=”The bright Reiner Gamma lunar swirl consists of light colored material on an otherwise dark region of the Moon.” title_text=”LunarSwirl-ReinerGamma” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” text_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Reiner Gamma feature on the Moon is likely due to a local magnetic field effecting how the Moon\u2019s surface is weathered over time. This region of the Moon is smooth, but can confuse AI into thinking there is some kind of topographic feature. Credit: NASA\/LRO WAC team<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Background The Moon is that world next door, a grey sphere that catches our eye but isn’t nearly as exciting as some of the other worlds out there, like ruddy Mars or brightly striped Jupiter or lava spewing Io. While the Moon may not be the “It” world everyone has fantasies of sending a spacecraft […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n The Moon is that world next door, a grey sphere that catches our eye but isn't nearly as exciting as some of the other worlds out there, like ruddy Mars or brightly striped Jupiter or lava and ash spewing Io. While the Moon may not be the \"It\" world everyone has fantasies of sending a spacecraft to, it is the one we actually have the potential to visit, and have visited in the past. And we\u2019re not just talking about visiting with robotic spacecraft, we're looking forward to a not-too-distant day when humans can once again look back at Earth from the surface of the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this community science project, we will explore Lunar Impact Melt flows. When large enough asteroids hit the Moon, the kinetic energy from the impact will carve out a crater and, in many cases, even melt enough rock to send white hot, gooey melt (it's what we'd call \"lava,\" except that it didn't erupt from underground) sloshing around the new crater and surrounding regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flowing liquids \u2014 whether that liquid is water, lava, or impact melt \u2014 can carry heavy objects, including chunks of the Moon's surface! If you find a really huge boulder sitting at the end of a lava or impact melt deposit, that means that the flow was at least strong enough to carry something that massive. Scientists who use computer models to simulate the flow of molten rock use the information on boulder size to estimate the strength of the flow. And, just like how more ice cubes do a better job of cooling your drink, the more solid rocks hanging around in molten rock \u2014 and the closer together they are \u2014 can affect how fast or slow the melt cools into a solid. But there are a lot of rocks. A lot. (You're going to see this for yourself if you help with this project!) That's where we need your help to mark the locations of rocks and to tell us the longest dimension on each boulder. When you click on individual\u00a0rocks, you're telling future computer code, \"Hey! You need to account for all these rocks right here and how they affected the flow of molten rock!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Craters that formed before and after the lunar melt flowed through the region also tell us about the Moon's history. How big are our craters? Where are they? We need YOU to tell us, because these holes-in-the-ground can affect the path taken by the impact melt when it was molten. And, craters on top of impact melt deposits can tell us how deep the melt is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might think this is something some computer AI should be able to do, but the truth is, the technology just isn't there yet. The material on the Moon's surface comes in different colors and textures (and shadows are always changing). These variations can confuse an AI that can't differentiate between a level spiral of different-colored materials and a topographic feature that shapes the Moon's surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The work you are doing, mapping out the locations of different geologic features on the Moon, will be used today to produce new scientific understandings about Little Lowell Crater and Tycho Crater. In the future, it may be used to train machine learning algorithms to carry on the work we've started and look at new areas on the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-123","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":421,"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions\/421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/MeltyRegionNearTycho-1024x415.png\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/mappers.psi.edu\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-13-at-10.40.05\u202fPM-300x137.png\")