Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A study linked the moon’s cooling in 2020 to COVID-19 lockdowns, cited reduced human activity as a possible cause.
Dr. William Schonberg of Missouri S&T and Dr. Shirin Haque from UWI have challenged the 2024 study with a more detailed analysis of lunar temperature data.
Schonberg and Haque’s research revealed the moon’s temperature dip began in 2019, well before global lockdowns.
Another significant temperature dip was identified in 2018, two years before the pandemic began, suggesting other influencing factors.
The original study used NASA’s Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment to analyze lunar temperatures from 2017 to 2023.
Credit: NASA
Schonberg’s team ran deeper statistical analyses, uncovering inconsistencies in the claim that lockdowns drove lunar temperature changes.
While Earth’s activity could slightly influence lunar surface temperatures, Schonberg noted the effect would likely be too small to measure.
The researchers emphasized that while Earthly changes might have minor effects, attributing the moon’s temperature shifts to human activity is speculative.
Schonberg and Haque’s work underscores the need for rigorous analysis in exploring the interplay between Earth and the moon’s environment.