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Chinese probe reveals secrets of the moon
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- Chang’e-4: In January, the Chinese spacecraft Chang’e-4, named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology, became the first ever craft to touch down on the far side of the lunar surface.
- Moon formation theories
(1) The moon is believed to have gone through a phase during its formation when it was partially or entirely composed of molten rock.
(2) As it cooled, denser minerals sank to the bottom of the magma-ocean, while lighter materials gathered near the surface to form its mantle.
- Magma ocean theory: Scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that results support the lunar magma ocean theory, and demonstrate that the magma ocean hypothesis can be used to describe the early evolution history of the moon.
- Aitken Basin: China landed its probe in the Von Karmen Crater in the Aitken Basin at the Moon’s south pole- home to one of the largest impact craters known in the solar system.
- Rare materials detected:
- Probe detected materials such as olivine and low-calcium pyroxene that are rare elsewhere on the surface.
- Study suggests that these materials were ejected from the Moon’s upper mantle when it was struck by a meteor.
- Far side topography: Unlike the near side of the moon that always faces the Earth and offers many flat areas to touch down on, the far side is mountainous and rugged
Source
The Hindu