this post was submitted on 09 May 2024
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Science Memes

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Moon dust (mander.xyz)
submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 21 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Isn't moon dust just sand?

[–] cynar 86 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It's sand that has never been exposed to water or oxygen. This leaves various reactive chemicals on the surface that would normally be broken down. The lack of water also means the particles haven't been smoothed off as much. They are sharp and spiky.

The combination of these effects makes the dust quite unique, compared to earth dust.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It also reportedly smells like gunpowder.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Burned or unburned? They are two distinct smells.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago

Burned, according to the astronauts. I don’t know if the exact mechanism has been published anywhere, but since spent gunpowder has been oxidized I imagine that’s what’s going on with the dust as well.

[–] vind 26 points 10 months ago (2 children)

50% SiO2, 15% Al2O3, 10% CaO, 10% MgO, 5% TiO2 and 5-15% iron

[–] 0110010001100010 46 points 10 months ago

And 100% reason to remember the name.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago

All those oxides but the iron is pure? SUS.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Jack Schmidt = Anakin confirmed.

[–] rustydomino 2 points 10 months ago

More like Jack Schmidt = Cave Johnson