Hasta La Gadget!

New NASA calculations show that the moon’s north and south poles may be a little more interesting than previously thought–and perhaps even dangerous.

Solar winds streaming over the craggy lunar surface may be strong enough to electrically charge polar crater on the moon, Space.com reports. That’s despite the presence of water ice; scientists believe it’s because of the moon’s orientation to the sun, which keeps the craters shielded and brings temperatures down to minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit, the report said. 

That’s enough to store water for billions of years, but the addition of solar winds presents additional problems for astronauts, said NASA lead author William Farrell in the article.

“Our research suggests that, in addition to the wicked cold, explorers and robots at the bottoms of polar lunar craters may have to contend with a complex electrical environment as well, which can affect surface chemistry, static discharge, and dust cling,” Farrell said.