Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A collaborative study by US and Chinese researchers has revealed evidence of volcanic activity on the Moon’s far side billions of years ago. This discovery was based on an analysis of rock samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission.
The analysis of basalt fragments retrieved during the Chang’e-6 mission indicated volcanic rock formed by eruptions over 4.2 billion years ago. This adds valuable information to our understanding of the lunar far side.
Unlike the Moon’s near side, which has been extensively studied, the far side is geologically distinct and relatively unexplored. These samples are the first to be collected from the far side, marking a significant breakthrough in lunar research.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences used radiometric dating techniques to determine the age of the volcanic rocks. They discovered that the rocks are over 4.2 billion years old, offering insights into the Moon’s early volcanic activity.
In addition to ancient eruptions, researchers found evidence of a volcanic eruption approximately 2.83 billion years ago, suggesting that volcanic activity occurred far later than previously believed on the Moon’s far side.
Professor Qiuli Li, a leading researcher from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, highlighted the study’s importance, calling it the first geochronological analysis of Chang’e-6 samples. The findings are expected to be highly valuable for lunar and planetary science.
The far side of the Moon, often referred to as the “dark side,” is not actually devoid of sunlight. It remains hidden from Earth because the Moon is tidally locked, meaning the same side always faces our planet.
The Chang’e-6 mission, which also deployed a rover to the far side of the Moon, captured significant images and videos. This includes a selfie of the lander on the rocky terrain, further advancing lunar exploration.