Global Lunar Mapping Reveals Widespread Young Tectonic Ridges Posing Potential Seismic Risks for Artemis Astronauts

NASA researchers identify thousands of young ridges on the Moon, indicating ongoing contraction and potential moonquake risks for future Artemis missions.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 28, 2026, 4:43 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Astronomy Magazine

A Shifting Landscape Across the Lunar Maria

A comprehensive global analysis led by the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies has unveiled a network of small mare ridges, or SMRs, stretching across the dark volcanic plains of the Moon. According to Michael E. Bakich, these features are the direct result of tectonic forces acting upon the lunar crust, marking the first time such structures have been documented so extensively within the maria. The study, recently published in The Planetary Science Journal, utilized high resolution mapping to catalog these formations, which were previously less understood than their highland counterparts. Scientists now believe these ridges are widespread, suggesting the Moon remains a geologically dynamic body rather than a stagnant relic of the early solar system.

The Mechanics of a Shrinking Celestial Body

The underlying cause of these tectonic features appears to be the gradual cooling and subsequent contraction of the lunar interior. According to senior scientist emeritus Tom Watters, the Moon is effectively getting smaller over time, a process that creates immense stress within its single plate crust. While this shrinkage was known to form lobate scarps in the lunar highlands, the new research confirms that the same compressive forces are buckling the surface within the lower lying maria. This internal thermal evolution pushes material upward along faults, resulting in the young ridges observed by the research team. This unified theory of lunar contraction connects disparate geographic features under a single, ongoing global process.

Dating the Youth of Lunar Surface Deformations

Geological dating of these newly discovered segments reveals that the Moon has experienced significant activity in its very recent history. According to Cole Nypaver, a post-doctoral research geologist, the average age of these small mare ridges is approximately 124 million years, which aligns closely with the 105 million year average of highland scarps. In the context of the Moon's four billion year lifespan, these structures represent the most recent twenty percent of its existence. The presence of these young features, some of which crosscut relatively small impact craters, proves that the lunar surface is being reshaped by internal forces well into the modern era.