NASA to Investigate Alleged Domes on the Moon

NASA’s upcoming Blue Ghost mission aims to unravel a 200-year-old lunar mystery by exploring the enigmatic Gruithuisen Domes—strange formations on the Moon that defy scientific explanation.

For nearly 200 years, strange dome-shaped structures on the Moon have stumped scientists, but new missions are making the lunar enigmas a top priority. To investigate these strange formations, NASA has planned a special mission, called ‘Blue Ghost’.

The story begins with a 19th-century scientist named Franz von Gruithuisen and what is now known as the Gruithuisen Domes. These bizarre structures have puzzled scientists ever since. They’re “one of the most enigmatic locations on the moon,” according to NASA, which means they’re some of the most mysterious places up there.

Why are these domes so interesting? On Earth, there are similar dome-like structures made by silica-rich volcanoes. But these Earth domes build due to two characteristics our planet has: water and moving tectonic plates (the massive sections of Earth’s crust that shift over eons). These two things don’t occur on the Moon, so scientists can’t understand how its domes formed.

NASA is sending a spacecraft called Blue Ghost to the Moon in 2028 to try and solve this mystery. After more than 238,000 miles of travel through space, the mission consists of two primary components — one spacecraft that will remain in orbit around the Moon relay messages and a landing vehicle that will carry a rover, which will be my focus to explore the Moon surface.

The rover will be equipped with special scientific instruments, including cameras that can detect types of light we can’t see with our eyes. It will devote roughly two weeks studying the domes—paying particular focus to one that has been dubbed the “Gamma Dome.” The scientists say that understanding the way in which these domes formed will not only bring closure to an ancient question but also will enable them to plan future Moon missions and better comprehend the history of Earth and other planets.

At this point in time, scientists and engineers are hard at work building and testing all of the equipment that will ultimately go on this mission. Blue Ghost team member Jessica Sunshine, a professor, is thrilled that what began as an idea in theory is being made real. The team will spend the early part of 2025 ensuring that all their instruments function flawlessly before being attached to the spacecraft.

Dr. Kerri Donaldson Hanna, who is directing the project at the University of Central Florida, said her team was proud of how it is preparing for what will be a pivotal mission. They are looking forward to investigating these mysterious Moon domes … and discovering how they formed.

It’s like solving a giant puzzle in space. By studying them, scientists believe they can unlock the Moon’s history as well as aid preparatory study for exploration of future space missions. After almost 200 years of speculation about these curious lunar land formations, it’s hard to believe that we are close to grabbing the answers.

(Source: The Debrief | Cover photo: Mike Wirths)