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Transient Lunar Phenomena, or TLPs are brief changes in the color or brightness of small areas of the Moon from time ti time, which have been reported by numerous astronomers over the years. There have been numerous hypotheses to explain the origin of TLPs, the reading passage brings up three possible theories and their reasons. The lecturer, however, rejects all the claims of the reading passage with certain points that contradict those reasons.
First of all, it is believed that cloud of lunar gas may cause the phenomena. It is also supported by the fact that the most TLPs are seen in the vicinity of craters with large fractures, where the gas would be able to escape to the surface. However, according to the lecture, the amount of gas in the Moon is known to be not enough to cause the phenomena. To be specific, one survey of research discovered that only a small amount of gas was detected in the Moon. It is known that, this is not enough quantity of gas to create clouds.
For the second, we may also speculate that TLPs are illuminated clouds of dust floating above the lunar landscape. In this regard, the lecturer points out that the size of clouds should be large enough so that they can be seen in the Earth. However, we already have clear evidence that the Moon has just a little dust, so the size of clouds cannot meet such size. By this reason, the clouds of dust cannot occur in the Moon.
Finally, the possible hypothesis for TLPs is that there are in fact caused by solar radiation. On the other hand, the lecturer questions this point and argues that this is mislead by the lack of data. Observing the several cases of solar radiation, they often show unmatched shape with TLPs. It is hard to conclude that TLPs are caused by the solar radiation. |