New research has confirmed that volcanoes were erupting on the mysterious far side of the moon billions of years ago, mirroring the volcanic activity on the side visible from Earth.
This groundbreaking discovery comes from the analysis of lunar soil samples brought back by China's Chang'e-6 mission, the first to return with rocks and dirt from the little-explored far side of the moon.
Two independent research teams examined the samples and found fragments of volcanic rock dating back approximately 2.8 billion years. Even more remarkably, one piece of rock was dated to 4.2 billion years ago, providing evidence of extremely ancient volcanic activity on the lunar far side.
Christopher Hamilton, a planetary volcano expert at the University of Arizona who was not involved in the research, emphasised the significance of these findings. "To obtain a sample from this area is really important because it's an area that otherwise we have no data for," he stated, highlighting the unique opportunity these samples present for lunar science.
While scientists have long known about active volcanoes on the near side of the moon dating back to a similar time frame, the far side's volcanic history has remained largely a mystery.
Previous studies, including data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, had hinted at the possibility of volcanic activity on the far side, but these new samples provide the first concrete evidence.
The confirmation of volcanic activity on both sides of the moon during similar periods suggests a more complex and dynamic lunar history than previously thought. It raises intriguing questions about the moon's formation, internal structure, and thermal evolution.
These results, published in the prestigious journals Nature and Science, mark a significant milestone in our understanding of lunar geology.
They not only fill a crucial gap in our knowledge of the moon's far side but also pave the way for future research into the differences and similarities between the near and far sides of Earth's celestial companion.
As scientists continue to analyze these rare samples, we can expect further insights into the moon's volcanic past and its implications for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution in the solar system.
