At the Moon's core lies a dense, metallic core, primarily composed of iron and some nickel.
While the exact composition and structure are still being studied, here's a more detailed breakdown of what's believed to be inside the Moon:
- The Lunar Core: The Moon's core is relatively small compared to its overall size, making up only a tiny percentage of its mass. It's thought to consist of two parts:
- Solid Inner Core: A solid inner core made mostly of iron.
- Fluid Outer Core: A fluid outer core, also mainly iron, surrounding the inner core.
- The Mantle: Encircling the core is the Moon's mantle. It's primarily composed of dense rocks rich in minerals like olivine and pyroxene. Seismic studies provide us with information on the composition and thickness.
- The Crust: The outermost layer of the Moon is its crust, which is significantly thicker on the far side compared to the near side. It's mainly composed of silicate rocks such as plagioclase feldspar. The crust is less dense than the mantle.
In summary, the Moon, similar to Earth, is layered. It has a metallic core (iron and nickel), a rocky mantle, and an outer crust.
