[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Scientists discover ‘hidden structures’ deep beneath the dark side of the moon Scientists discover ‘hidden structures’ deep beneath the dark side of the moon Story by Joseph Shavit • 2 November 2024 The moon, our closest celestial neighbor, has captivated our imagination and fueled our creativity for ages. It's been a recurring subject in art, literature, and science, consistently shrouded in mystery. However, we've made significant discoveries about the moon's intricate geological history, which stretches back billions of years. Thanks to China's space program, we are beginning to understand the moon's history better. The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) launched a groundbreaking mission in 2018 with the Chang’e-4 lander. This was the first spacecraft to land on the moon's far side, often called its "dark side." In the years since its historic landing, Chang’e-4 has been diligently capturing vivid images of lunar impact craters while extracting invaluable mineral samples. These endeavors have illuminated the structures embedded within the top 1,000 feet of the moon’s surface. Earlier this month, the world waited with bated breath as the Chang’e- 4’s discoveries were unveiled. The findings, meticulously documented in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, provide a panoramic view into the geological layers that compose the top 130 feet (40m) of the lunar surface. Comprising dust, soil, and fractured rocks, these layers hold tales of cataclysmic events and evolving landscapes. The Daedalus crater on the far side of the moon as seen from the Apollo 11 spacecraft. (CREDIT: NASA) A significant revelation from the Chang’e-4's analysis was the identification of a crater, formed by the violent collision of a large object with the moon. This groundbreaking discovery was co-led by Jianqing Feng, a renowned astrogeological researcher at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona. Venturing deeper, Feng and his team uncovered a series of five distinct layers of lunar lava. This ancient lava, spanning vast areas of the landscape, dates back billions of years. But how did the moon come to be? Experts broadly concur that the moon was formed around 4.51 billion years ago. A cataclysmic event involving a Mars-sized object colliding with Earth led to a fragment breaking away, which eventually coalesced to form the moon. The subsequent 200 million years witnessed the fledgling moon being repeatedly assailed by space debris, etching its surface with myriad cracks. Feng elucidated on this period, drawing parallels with Earth. "Much like our planet, the moon’s mantle once harbored pockets of molten magma," he noted. This magma, seizing the opportunity presented by the moon’s freshly minted cracks, reached the surface in explosive volcanic events. Poster Comment: We are not alone. Video at source. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
|
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||