The reason for the dip, according to the team, is the amount of radiation received from the Earth. During the lunar night on the near side, the Moon receives its radiation as it is reflected off the surface of the Earth. As human activities changed, and fewer pollutants were put into our atmosphere, this had a knock-on effect, with less radiation reflected toward the Moon. And so, COVID-19 lockdowns appear to have, inadvertently, briefly made the surface of the Moon colder.

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 51 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I remember when the lockdowns first hit. After about a month, the skies were clearer. I lived in the suburbs at the time and it was subtle but noticable. This was his things were supposed to be. Little traffic, less noise and smog pollution.

Return to office mandates killed it all.

[–] Crampon@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sure sounds cool not inhaling poison put in the air by corporate greed. But what about the commercial real estate investors? Won't you think about their infinite growth for moment?

[–] CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 month ago

I know...I know. I'm such a bad peon worker. I'll surrender myself to the police later this afternoon. I deserve the maximum punishment.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

There were sea lions on many of the beaches (which were all closed) and dolphins in the bays (from lack of boat traffic ) in San Diego

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 27 points 1 month ago

Many thanks.

[–] bane_killgrind@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 month ago

That's awesome

[–] orl0pl@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

I wait for lockdown season 2

[–] Nerrad@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I miss covid lock downs. Those were the days. Sure, I ran out of toilet paper, but it was a small price to pay for a warmer moon.

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

Right before everything went to shit, I had went to Costco and accidentally bought an extra case of toilet paper, not realizing I still had some at home. I wasn’t too pissed since it wasn’t going to expire or anything, but it turned out to be one of the best accidental purchases I’ve ever made.