The Apollo 14 Lunar Module on the surface of the Moon. A small American flag and small antenna are planted a few feet away. In the background, the Sun creates a bright flare.

Record of the Ancient Sun

We can learn about the Sun by studying its effects on the Moon.

We can also study the Sun by looking to the Moon. The Moon’s surface has been bathed in solar wind and cosmic rays throughout its history. Buried regolith, such as that trapped between lava flows, retains a historical record of solar wind fluxes. Collection of core tube samples to study these particles trapped in regolith layers will help us understand both regolith stratigraphy and the history of the solar wind and the implications this has on how the Sun has changed with time.

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James Webb Space Telescope

The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

Juno