Would it be possible to give the moon an atmosphere?

Question

Could we create a breathable atmosphere on the moon. Could we create protection from radiation, and weather cycles, such as we have on earth. Could we then grow crops, build homes, export minerals to earth? The moon is a large expanse of vacant real estate on our doorstep. What do others think?

Answer 1

There are only two factors that will determine if a body will retain an atmosphere:
1) speed of gas molecules relative to escape velocity
2) replenishment of lost gas.

1) is affected by temperature: Titan, which has about same gravity as Moon (OK, maybe a bit more), has plenty of atmosphere because the gas molecules are moving very slowly: they can't escape easily.
Titan is 9.5 times further from the Sun than Moon is, so the Solar flux at the Moon (1370 Watts per m^2) is 90 times stronger than at Titan (15 W/m^2): a lot less energy there to warm up the atmosphere.
1) is also affected by the size (mass) of molecules. The stronger the sunlight, the harder it is for large molecules to survive: the high energy photons break them down into smaller (lighter) molecules which will go faster when heated -- therefore escape more easily. A magnetic field may help to prevent some high energy particles (solar wind) from 'attacking' large molecules, but it does nothing to stop high energy photons.
1) is also affected by the surface gravity of the body. On Earth, the surface gravity is such that the escape velocity is over 11 km/s. Still, some molecules of lighter gases do reach that speed and 'leak out' into space, sometimes entraining larger molecules with them. The Moon's escape velocity is only 2.4 km/s.


2) is affected by the nature of the planet itself. Earth is still very active. Outgassing from volcanoes, oceans, etc... Moon is pretty well dead in that respect.

We could try with a mix of Oxygen and a very heavy 'noble' gas like Xenon. A Xenon atom is 10 times heavier than a Nitrogen molecule so it should escape a lot less rapidly. It would act as a kind of shield for the Oxygen (in trying to escape, Oxygen would have to bump into Xenon atoms: that may slow down the Oxygen sufficiently for it to escape at a rate that we could replenish artificially.

However, we could not bring that much Oxygen (and even less 4 times more Xenon!) from Earth to provide such a large atmosphere that would be at breathable pressure (to have the proper mix is not enough: there must be enough in quantity AND in pressure for our lungs to be able to use the Oxygen).

We'd need domes (or sealed caves as in John K's answer)

Answer 2

Unfortuately, this would be just about impossible with any kind of technology we know of. The Moon's gravity is only one sixth that of Earth, AND it has no protective magnetic field, so the Sun would just blow any atmosphere off immediately. In fact, this is the main reason why the Moon currently has no atmosphere.

However, it would be possible to build shelters on the Moon and fill them with breathable air. The Apollo missions did just that for several hours at a time back around 1970, and it is likely that within a couple decades we will have a permanent base there, probably with inflatable tents filled with breathable air. Farther in the future, underground shelters could also be built that could contain air as well.

Answer 3

it really is a probability that in that is formation Titan develop into blessed with some residual gasses that now make up Saturn. Titan is a truly great moon, yet not a lot extra gravity than our moon. that is ecosystem is often Methane. i do not imagine it a probability in our image voltaic equipment that a moon might want to have a dense CO2 ecosystem at those temperatures or situations. i imagine extra gravity is significant to carry CO2, exceptionally interior the same densities considered on Titan. Our personal Earth won't be able to keep up that. If there is ecosystem in any respect there are "top degrees" that merely skill the position the air starts to skinny. A magnetic field is significant to have magnetic poles AND a phenomena like northern light fixtures. Magnetic fields are merely a probability even as a celestial body has an iron middle. maximum do, besides the indisputable fact that in the experience that they are small moons, the sphere is susceptible.

Answer 4

No, the moon's gravity is too low to hold on to an atmosphere. No, we have now technical way to bring the "atmosphere" up to the moon. No, there are no natural resources on the moon to make an atmosphere for the entire moon.

An atmosphere could only be created and held in plave in a biosphere - an enclosed space.

Answer 5

It would have to be in a bioshpere type of set up. The moon's gravity is too weak to hold an atmosphere suitable for human life. Hoever a large containment area would certainly be able to sustain the atmosphere and allow for crop growth and colonization. The main reason it hasn't been attempted is the distance that must be traveled in space to get there. (really, we have been working on the space station for how long? and it isn't anywhere near completion yet) I doubt there will be moon colonies in my lifetime but my son or his children (when he has them) might see them.

Answer 6

No, there would be nothing to keep the atmosphere there. Compare with Mars, which is half the size of earth, and has much less atmosphere. (To say nothing of the lack of a strong magnetic field to hold the atmosphere in place)

Even if we gave the moon an atmosphere, somehow, it wouldn't be long before it was cast off into space.

Answer 7

Look, the earth is full of magnetic waves that help us with layers protect ourselves from radiation, the UV sun light of course and give to us H2O with O2N. But the moon doesn't have these layers so a human cannot create them. In earth these layers are there because of the rotation that happens to earth.But in the moon there is C4, which can KILL a human being without the uniform and the benefit of O2Z. That's all i know. I hope i have helped you.

Answer 8

The Moon is too small and does not have enough gravity to keep any atmosphere for long. It would diffuse away into space in a few years.

Answer 9

NO there is not enough gravity as it is too little to hold an atmosphere. The sun will heat the air molecules to a temperature that it could obtain escape velocity.

Answer 10

I don't think the moon is large enough to retain a useable atmosphere for humans.

I'm not sure though, I'm not a scientist.