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You’ve no doubt noticed that the moon has two different sides, right? The near side that we can see from Earth and the far side that remains mysterious
You’ve no doubt noticed that the moon has two different sides, right? The near side that we can see from Earth and the far side that remains mysterious because it never looks at us. This unusual feature of the Moon (a spherical duality) is being investigated by a team of scientists led by Professor Xu Yigan from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIGCAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
They examined lunar soil samples collected at the South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA) on the far side of the Moon and sent back to Earth by China’s Chang’e-6 mission. These priceless samples allowed them to explore the moon’s peculiar dichotomy, and the results shed light on some of the moon’s mysteries.
The Chinese space program launched Chang’e 6, its last mission to the moon, on May 3, 2024. The spacecraft took off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on a Long March 5 rocket at 9:27 UT (i.e. 17:27 Beijing time). .
Their purpose? Collecting nearly 2 kg of rocks from the far side of the moon was something no one had done before.
The lander landed in a huge crater at the South Pole called Aitken Basin. The team used both a scoop and a drill to extract samples from the surface and even went 2 meters deep into the lunar soil. They also sent out a small rover that took pictures of the lander doing its thing. After collecting the samples, the crew placed them on a lift on top of the lander.
On June 3, at 23:38 UT (07:38 Beijing time the next day), this vehicle lifted off from the lunar surface and rendezvoused with the orbiter waiting above. They made the transfer on June 6, 2024.
After abandoning the launch vehicle (it returned to the moon), the reentry vehicle remained in orbit for several weeks before returning home.
On June 25, at 6:07 UT (14:07 Beijing time), it made a difficult passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and landed in the Seniwang Banner region of Inner Mongolia. The last exit? About 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg) of lunar rocks and soil from the far side is another major victory for China’s space program.
The Moon’s dichotomy is clearly seen in its topography, chemical composition, thickness of the crust, signs of volcanism, and most importantly, the difference in geomorphology between its near and far sides. The near side of the Moon is home to Maria’s familiar “man in the moon,” dark “seas” that are the result of ancient volcanic activity. These areas were flooded with molten lava, forming rocks known as marebsalts.
What about the far side? This is where it gets interesting. Only 2% of this hidden part of the Moon is covered in basalts, compared to 30% on the near side. This confusing distinction is an important part of the global lunar dilemma that China’s lunar exploration program is trying to solve.
Using Chang’e-6 lunar soil samples, Professor Xu’s team discovered the existence of two different types of low titanium and very low titanium (VLT) basalts.
“The samples returned by Chang’e-6 offer the best opportunity to investigate the global dichotomy of the Moon,” said Professor Xu.
Let’s not ignore the dating aspect of these examples. Using high-precision Pb-Pb dating techniques, the team determined that the low-titanium basalt was approximately 2.83 billion years old. This indicates the presence of “young” magmatism, or volcanic activity, on the far side of the Moon. But of course, youth is a relative term when we are talking about 2.83 billion years.
With this valuable information in hand, we can create a clear timeline of volcanoes on the far side of the Moon. The team, led by Professor LI Qiuli, carried out radioisotope dating of 108 basalt fragments; 107 of these revealed a formation age of 2807 million years ago.
But there is something else. A monumental piece of high-aluminum basalt dated to 4.203 million years ago is the oldest lunar basalt whose age has been determined with certainty. This means that the level of volcanic activity increased on the far side of the Moon for at least 1.4 billion years (4.2 to 2.8 billion years ago).
These findings, which can be analyzed publicly, could help recalibrate existing models of lunar crater chronology. Christopher Hamilton, an independent expert on planetary volcanoes, emphasized the importance of taking samples from this previously unexplored lunar region.
These lunar soil samples have implications for more than just understanding the Moon, but also for some broader astronomical theories.
The new data points to a steady stream of impacts after 2.83 billion years, which could offer new insights into planetary migration in the early Solar System. So, when we look at the Moon, we indirectly learn about our own cosmic neighborhood!
It will come with more missions like Chang’e-6, sure to bring many instructive discoveries about our enduring celestial companion. We finally see that despite its familiar appearance, the Moon still hides untold secrets waiting to be discovered. These lunar missions represent a new era of lunar and planetary exploration that pushes the boundaries of our understanding.
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
