An asteroidal origin for water in the Moon

Jessica J. Barnes (), David A. Kring, Romain Tartèse, Ian A. Franchi, Mahesh Anand and Sara S. Russell
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Jessica J. Barnes: The Open University, Walton Hall
David A. Kring: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Romain Tartèse: The Open University, Walton Hall
Ian A. Franchi: The Open University, Walton Hall
Mahesh Anand: The Open University, Walton Hall
Sara S. Russell: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The Apollo-derived tenet of an anhydrous Moon has been contested following measurement of water in several lunar samples that require water to be present in the lunar interior. However, significant uncertainties exist regarding the flux, sources and timing of water delivery to the Moon. Here we address those fundamental issues by constraining the mass of water accreted to the Moon and modelling the relative proportions of asteroidal and cometary sources for water that are consistent with measured isotopic compositions of lunar samples. We determine that a combination of carbonaceous chondrite-type materials were responsible for the majority of water (and nitrogen) delivered to the Earth–Moon system. Crucially, we conclude that comets containing water enriched in deuterium contributed significantly

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11684

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