American and Chinese researchers have uncovered evidence of volcanic eruptions on the Moon's far side, dating back over 4.2 billion years. The findings, published in the journals Nature and Science, stem from samples collected during China's Chang'e-6 mission.
The analysis revealed basalt fragments, a type of volcanic rock formed after eruptions, indicating that while volcanic activity was known on the near side of the Moon, the far side's geology is markedly different and largely unexplored.
These samples, the first retrieved from the Moon's far side, were obtained after nearly two months of the Chang'e-6 mission. Led by experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers utilized radiometric dating to determine the age of the volcanic rocks.
Additionally, the study identified a surprisingly young eruption occurring approximately 2.83 billion years ago, a phenomenon not previously observed on the near side. Professor Qiuli Li from the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that this is the first geochronological study derived from Chang'e-6 samples, which will be significant for lunar and planetary science.
Despite being referred to as the 'dark side,' this region of the Moon receives ample sunlight; it simply remains out of view from Earth. The Moon is tidally locked with Earth, taking about 27 days to rotate on its axis, which results in the same side always facing our planet.
The first image of the far side was captured in 1959 by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3. Although low-quality, it provided a new perspective of the Moon. Since then, several higher-quality images have been transmitted, including a NASA video from 2015 showcasing the Moon from its far side, with Earth in the background.