This cartoon representation shows how water molecules are sparsely attached to some grains at the top of the lunar surface. The molecules are tightly bound to the grains until surface temperatures reach their peak near local noon. Near local noon, the molecules thermally desorb and can move to a nearby location that is cold enough for the molecule to be stable, perhaps into the small shadow cast by a neighboring grain. The lunar grains are rough (and shaped irregularly), which may be related to how the molecules can remain tightly bound for much of the lunar day. (Credit: Amanda Hendrix, PSI)
This cartoon representation shows how water molecules are sparsely attached to some grains at the top of the lunar surface. The molecules are tightly bound to the grains until surface temperatures reach their peak near local noon. Near local noon, the molecules thermally desorb and can move to a nearby location that is cold enough for the molecule to be stable, perhaps into the small shadow cast by a neighboring grain. The lunar grains are rough (and shaped irregularly), which may be related to how the molecules can remain tightly bound for much of the lunar day. (Credit: Amanda Hendrix, PSI)
