Detection of a nonuniform distribution of polonium-210 on the moon with the apollo 16 alpha particle spectrometer

Science. 1973 Jun 1;180(4089):957-9. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4089.957.

Abstract

The polonium-210 activity of the lunar surface is significantly larger than the activity of its progenitor radon-222. This result establishes unequivocally that radon emanation from the present-day moon varies considerably within the 21-year half-life of lead-210, the parent nuclide of polonium-210. There are large variations and well-localized enhancements in polonium-210 activity over much of the moon's surface.