第2338期:Water Sources on Moon More Widespread than Thought(1)

A new study suggests sources of water on the moon are more widespread than previously thought. 

一项新的研究表明，月球上的水源比之前想象的更为广泛。 

The study was based on new examinations of data collected by India’s Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. It launched in October 2008 and collected data while orbiting the moon for about a year. 

这项研究基于对印度月船一号航天器收集的数据的新检查。它于 2008 年 10 月发射，并在绕月飞行约一年的时间里收集数据。 

Chandrayaan-1 has already provided evidence of water on the moon. In September 2009, scientists published a study based on data from the Indian space mission. The data showed the presence of molecules linked to water, as well as the substance hydroxyl. 

Chandrayaan-1 已经提供了月球上有水的证据。2009 年 9 月，科学家发表了一项基于印度太空任务数据的研究。数据显示存在与水相连的分子以及羟基物质。 

The American space agency NASA describes hydroxyl (OH) as “a molecule made up of one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom with a free (unpaired) electron.” It notes it is “one of the most reactive gases in the atmosphere” and can help break down other gases in the air. 

美国航天局 NASA 将羟基 (OH) 描述为“由一个氢原子和一个氧原子组成的分子，带有一个自由（不成对）电子”。它指出它是“大气中最具反应性的气体之一”，可以帮助分解空气中的其他气体。 

The 2009 study suggested the water molecules identified by Chandrayaan-1 data were mainly found in the moon’s extreme northern and southern areas, known as the poles. Scientists said the data from that study showed most of the water probably existed in large craters near the poles where sunlight is blocked. 

2009年的研究表明，月船一号数据识别出的水分子主要存在于月球的极北和极南区域，即两极。科学家表示，该研究的数据显示，大部分水可能存在于两极附近阳光被阻挡的大陨石坑中。 

But new examinations of the data show that water and hydroxyl molecules likely exist over much wider areas of the moon. In addition, the research suggests water is even present in areas of the moon receiving direct sunlight. 

但对数据的新检查表明，水和羟基分子可能存在于月球更广泛的区域。此外，研究表明，月球上接受阳光直射的区域甚至也存在水。 

The instrument aboard Chandrayaan-1 that captured the molecule data is called the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3). NASA built and operated the instrument. The space agency describes M3 as an “imaging spectrometer.” A spectrometer is an instrument used to study the chemical composition and structures of substances. 

Chandrayaan-1 上捕获分子数据的仪器称为月球矿物学绘图仪 (M3)。美国宇航局建造并操作了该仪器。该航天局将 M3 描述为“成像光谱仪”。光谱仪是用于研究物质的化学成分和结构的仪器。

On the Chandrayaan-1 mission, the spectrometer aimed to map the mineral composition of materials on the moon’s surface. Researchers examined this data and centered their search on areas outside the lunar poles. 

在月船一号任务中，光谱仪的目的是绘制月球表面材料的矿物成分图。研究人员检查了这些数据，并将搜索集中在月极以外的区域。