Indian scientists recently made a fascinating discovery: the global lockdown due to COVID-19 in 2020 affected not only the Earth but also the temperature of the Moon. A study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters found that the moon’s nighttime temperatures dropped by 8-10 Kelvin during the period of strict closure between April and May 2020.

Led by Dr. K. Durga Prasad and Dr. G. Ambily of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), the research team used data collected by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The team analyzed six sites on the near side of the Moon between 2017 and 2023, comparing temperature records from different years. They noted a clear drop in temperature during the peak of global quarantines, compared to other years in the study. A decrease in outgoing radiation from Earth during this time, coupled with reduced human activity and lower greenhouse gas emissions, is believed to have caused the unusual cooling on the Moon’s surface.

Temperature analysis and future implications

According to the research, the lowest lunar temperature recorded in 2020 was 96.2 K at one location, while the highest of the lowest temperatures was 143.8 K in 2022. Temperature variations over the years suggest that the Moon’s thermal environment is sensitive to changes on Earth.

Scientists suggest that this unique period of global inactivity has provided insight into the relationship between Earth’s atmosphere and the Moon. Although more data is needed to fully understand this correlation, the study opens up new possibilities for observing Earth’s climate from the Moon. Future lunar observatories could play a significant role in monitoring Earth’s environment and improving our understanding of planetary interactions.

The discovery highlights how events on Earth can affect celestial bodies in ways we are only beginning to understand.