In a groundbreaking discovery, US and Chinese researchers have revealed evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon’s far side, a region that has remained largely unexplored. The study, a collaborative effort involving data and samples collected during China’s Chang’e-6 mission, sheds new light on the geological history of this mysterious part of the Moon. Findings from the study were published in the prestigious journals Nature and Science.
The Chang’e-6 spacecraft retrieved basalt fragments—volcanic rock formed from molten lava—dating back over 4.2 billion years. This marks the first time samples have been collected from the Moon’s far side, often referred to as the “dark side” because it is never visible from Earth. However, the term “dark side” is a misnomer, as this region receives sunlight like the near side, but remains perpetually hidden due to the Moon’s tidal locking with Earth.
Radiometric dating of the samples, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed an even more surprising finding: evidence of a “young” volcanic eruption that occurred approximately 2.83 billion years ago. This contrasts with the more well-documented volcanic activity on the near side of the Moon, which largely ceased around 3 billion years ago.
“This is an incredibly exciting study,” wrote Professor Qiuli Li from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics in a peer review. “It represents the first geochronological analysis of Chang’e-6 samples and will be immensely valuable to lunar and planetary science.”
The Chang’e-6 mission, a nearly two-month endeavor, faced significant challenges in landing and retrieving samples from the far side’s rugged terrain. Earlier this year, the mission also deployed a small rover that captured striking images, including a selfie of the lander on the rocky surface. These milestones have further cemented the mission’s role in advancing lunar exploration.
The Moon’s far side was first photographed in 1959 by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3, which provided grainy yet historic images. Since then, improved high-resolution images, including NASA’s detailed videos showing Earth in the background, have offered glimpses of this hidden lunar landscape.
This latest discovery opens new avenues for understanding the Moon’s geological evolution and its contrasting hemispheres. By uncovering volcanic activity billions of years old, scientists aim to gain deeper insights into the processes that shaped not only the Moon but also other celestial bodies in the solar system.
