Scientists Use Moonquakes to Track Hidden Lunar Ice
- Scientists have developed a method to locate hidden ice on the moon by analyzing moonquakes and seismic waves, according to reporting by Media Indonesia on August 4, 2026.
- The approach relies on the way seismic waves travel through different materials.
- Water ice is primarily sought in the moon's permanently shadowed regions, particularly at the poles, where temperatures remain low enough to prevent sublimation.
Scientists have developed a method to locate hidden ice on the moon by analyzing moonquakes and seismic waves, according to reporting by Media Indonesia on August 4, 2026. This technique uses seismic data to identify subsurface water ice, a critical resource for supporting human life and fuel production for NASA’s Artemis missions.
The approach relies on the way seismic waves travel through different materials. Because ice changes the speed and direction of these waves compared to dry lunar rock, researchers can map the location and volume of ice deposits by monitoring moonquakes.
Water ice is primarily sought in the moon’s permanently shadowed regions, particularly at the poles, where temperatures remain low enough to prevent sublimation. Finding these deposits is a primary objective for the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.
According to the research detailed by Media Indonesia, the use of seismic waves allows scientists to “see” deeper into the lunar crust than surface-level orbital imaging. This provides a more accurate assessment of how much water is actually available for extraction.
The ability to locate water is not merely a scientific curiosity but a logistical necessity for long-term space habitation. Water can be processed into breathable oxygen and liquid hydrogen fuel, reducing the amount of mass that must be launched from Earth.
NASA’s Artemis missions are designed to utilize these resources to create semi-permanent bases. The discovery of a reliable method to track hidden ice via seismic activity reduces the risk of landing crews in areas devoid of necessary water supplies.
Current lunar exploration involves a combination of orbital radar and lander-based instruments. The integration of moonquake data adds a new layer of verification, as seismic signatures provide a distinct fingerprint for ice-rich soil versus volcanic basalt or regolith.
While the method shows promise, the precision of the mapping depends on the density and distribution of seismic sensors across the lunar surface. Future missions will likely require more extensive sensor networks to refine the resolution of these ice maps.