Why did scientist believe there were volcanoes on the moon??????????

Question

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Answer 1

Actually, there was volcanoes on the moon. But a few billions years ago. Now, the moon, is geologically dead. Apollo 15 (last mission with humans on moon) took samples of volcanic soil (a orange stuff). They found it after the orbital survey made in a early mission by an astronaut, who`s task was exactly to find volcanoes cones. The whole job was very important (NASA sending even a civilian scientist on the moon - a geologist) because the intrigue about the origin of the moon. The oxygen isotopes was exactly the same as on Earth (suggesting a commune genesis), but on the moon was no water molecule (suggesting that the moon formed elsewhere in the solar system). And a sample of the original moon crust was needed to solve the problem. This findings lead to the actual theory about moon`s formation: a body as big as the primordial Earth collide with this primordial Earth, forming a lot of debris, witch orbiting the new Earth, formed the moon (still very hot from the impact). The primordial moon, had geological activity, including volcanoes, but after a time it cooled down, just as it is now.
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Answer 2

Homework assignment? :-)

If you are asking about the history of why many thought the craters were volcanic, it's because the early history of the solar system was not really understood very well. Most could not imagine impacts big enough to create the craters they observed. And the only known surface belongs to earth, where volcanic process dominate the impact structures. So the early guess was the moon is like the earth and also formed primarily through volcanic processes (plate tectonics on earth were not understood at that time).

There have been volcanic activity. When you look at the moon and see the dark areas (maria = "seas") you are looking at gigantic lava flows. But it is now understood that impacts formed most of the features we see on the moon.

If you are interested in astronomy and the moon in particular, try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/

Chuck

Answer 3

The simple answer is that the impact craters, caused by the moon's lack of atmosphere, resembled volcano rims.

Answer 4

There are other structures on the moon that are of volcanic origin. Rilles are collapsed lava tubes or lave channels, for instance.

Answer 5

basalt craters......basalt is the main rock that is formed from volcanic eruptions,