NASA: Why is the Moon glowing brighter than the Sun in these incredible NASA photos?
Their NASA scientists are attempting to better understand another type of radiation from space: highly-energetic particles called cosmic rays.
Dr Mazziotta said: “Cosmic rays are mostly protons accelerated by some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe, like the blast waves of exploding stars and jets produced when matter falls into black holes.”
Because the particles are electrically charged, they are strongly affected by magnetic fields, which the Moon lacks.
Consequently, even low-energy cosmic rays can reach the surface, transforming the Moon into a useful orbiting particle detector.
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