Volcanic Activity on Moon's Far Side Unveiled: Ancient Eruptions Date Back Billions of Years
A groundbreaking study published in two prominent scientific journals has confirmed that volcanoes on the mysterious far side of the moon were erupting billions of years ago, just like those on the near side that is visible from Earth. Researchers analyzed lunar soil brought back by China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft, which successfully returned with a haul of rocks and dirt from the little-explored far side of the moon.
The analysis revealed fragments of volcanic rock dating back approximately 2.8 billion years ago, while one piece dated as far back as 4.2 billion years, a timeframe that is considered ancient. According to Christopher Hamilton, a planetary volcano expert at the University of Arizona, obtaining samples from this area is crucial, as it provides invaluable data for scientists.
Previous studies had hinted at a possible volcanic past on the moon's far side, with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter offering further insights into the region's geology. However, this new study provides concrete evidence of active volcanoes on the far side, confirming that both sides of the moon were subject to similar geological processes.
China has been actively exploring the moon in recent years, launching several spacecraft that have returned valuable data and samples from the lunar surface. The Chang'e-5 mission brought back rocks from the near side in 2020, while the Chang'e-4 mission became the first to visit the far side in 2019.
Researchers now believe that over 1 billion years of volcanic eruptions occurred on the lunar far side, but further research is needed to determine how this activity lasted for so long. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of the moon's geological history, the findings from this study provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of our closest celestial neighbor.
"It's exciting to finally have access to information that was previously unexplored," said Qiu-Li Li, co-author of the study and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "The new data will undoubtedly shed more light on the moon's volcanic past and help us better understand this enigmatic satellite."