The Moon's Magnetic Umbrellas

eldavojohn writes "When it comes to space exploration, there are things that are good for humans (water) and things that are bad for humans (radiation). In order for exploration of the moon to occur, its lack of a global magnetic shield to block solar radiation must be addressed. Luckily, scientists have discovered that there are highly magnetized areas of the moon's crust that could shield settlements." From the article: "Current evidence suggests that impact-basin ejecta materials [material blasted out by huge asteroid or comet impacts] are the most likely sources of many or all of the magnetic fields ... These ejecta contain microscopic metallic iron particles that are the carriers of the magnetization."

Colonies in huge crater sites?

[InDi0]

So the question that remains to be answered is

Do asteroids hit the same spot twice??

Terraforming

[Pink_Ranger]

So does that mean that terraforming is out of the question? I mean, even if we could create and hold an atmosphere (impossible for lack of gravity), would the moon remain uninhabitable due to a weak magnetosphere?

Re:Never going to happen

[Tx]

1) The moon is too ugly

I guess one man's ugly is another man's beautiful
 
...and the gravity too light.

A plus for most Americans - instantly lose 5/6 of your weight just by relocating

2) Mars is ugly too, but even beyond that, it won't be allowed because we won't want to screw up the natural environment for study.

Can't study it properly if we don't go there. Studying Mars will likely be the justification for any first settlement.

I must be a freak then...

[nick_davison]

there are things that are good for humans (water) and things that are bad for humans (radiation)

Being a fan of light and heat but not drowning, does that make me a weird human?

As the old saying goes: all things in moderation. Radiation's pretty useful, just as water is. Overwhelm my body with either though and things start to go wrong. In the history of humanity though, I'm guessing more people have died from too much water than too much radiation - if only due to the convenience of access to excess of one and not the other.

Re:Short List

[ScentCone]

I thought you said these things were supposed to be bad for humans... if that's the case sign me up, I'll take one for the team here.

OK, Dr. Von Doom.

Ah ha!

Re:Those things are bad for you.....

[Apocalypse111]

The magnetic fields in question don't have to be all that strong to defend against radiation - no stronger than the one you've been sitting under for your whole life that is doing the same for you now.