With the help of its instrument, Yutu-2 was able to map previously unknown “inner parts” of the far side of the Moon.
According to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, scientists have obtained data about the 300-metre upper layer of the lunar surface for the first time. So they see previously hidden structures that reveal billions of years of the moon’s history, Live Science writes.
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In 2018, the Yutu-2 lunar rover and China’s Chang’e-4 lander landed on the far side of the moon. It was the first terrestrial spacecraft to make such a landing on the side of the Moon not visible from Earth. Since then, scientists have continued to examine the large volumes of data obtained by the devices. Now, for the first time, planetary scientists have been able to map structures 300 meters below the lunar surface. According to scientists, this is the first such active analysis of the intestines of our satellite.
The Yutu-2 lunar rover is equipped with a special radar that allows it to send radio signals into the moon. After that, the device processes the received “echo” rotation so scientists can map hidden lunar structures. For example, 3 years ago, scientists mapped a layer 40 meters deep on the far side of the moon, but radar hasn’t sent any deeper signals since.
Based on new data obtained when probing depths of up to 300 meters, the scientists discovered that there are several different layers of dust, soil and broken stone. Scientists also discovered a hidden crater here, formed as a result of the fall of an asteroid. Planetary scientists have found five separate layers of lunar lava that seeped here billions of years ago, much deeper than 40 meters.
According to current assumptions, the Moon appeared about 4.5 billion years ago, after a Mars-sized object collided with early Earth. For this reason, a piece of our planet, the Moon, was torn off.
As on Earth, the Moon’s mantle at that time contained a large amount of molten magma that passed through fissures after a series of volcanic eruptions. Scientists have discovered that layers of volcanic rock thin out as they approach the moon’s surface. Most likely, there were fewer volcanic eruptions over time and less lava fell here. The Moon, like Earth, was slowly but surely cooling down.
Now scientists believe that volcanic activity on the moon stopped about 1 billion years ago. At the same time, some researchers suggest that the eruptions on the Moon occurred 100 million years ago. In any case, our satellite is considered dead in terms of geological activity.
But the authors of the new study believe magma may still be hiding much deeper than the rover’s radar has penetrated. For this reason, research on the dark side of the moon continues.
Focus He already wrote that the Russian landing module “Luna-25” will not be able to make a soft landing on the moon. It fell on our satellite on August 20, and the causes of this disaster are still being investigated.
Moreover Focus He wrote that the first problems with the Luna-25 apparatus arose when it entered an unplanned orbit around the Moon on August 19 and communication with it was lost.
Writer Yan Valetov, against the backdrop of the Russian landowner’s disaster, expressed his opinion on why Russia could not imitate the Soviet Union, as Focus has already written. The fact is that the Luna-25 mission is a direct “successor” to the Soviet Luna-24 mission. The latter, by the way, ended successfully.
Source: Focus
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