Bright spots on moon result of comet crashes

New York: Lunar swirls, wispy bright regions scattered on the Moon's surface were created by the numerous comets that crashed into the lunar surface over the past 100 million years, says a new study. The researchers used computer models to simulate the dynamics of comet impacts on the lunar soil.

The simulations suggest that such impacts can account for many of the features in the mysterious swirls. Lunar swirls have been the source of debate for years. The twisting, swirling streaks of bright soil stretch, in some cases, for thousands of miles across the lunar surface.

Most are found on the unseen far side of the Moon, but one famous swirl called Reiner Gamma can be seen by telescope on the southwestern corner of the moons near side. Comets carry their own gaseous atmosphere called a coma. The simulations showed that the scoured area would stretch for perhaps thousands of kilometres from the impact point, consistent with the swirling streaks that extend across the Moon's surface.