🌕 Big news for space fans! Chinese researchers recently studied rock samples from Chang'e-6 and uncovered key clues about the moon's geological evolution.
🔬 By analyzing tiny mineral grains, they found that the lunar mantle lost a bunch of its volatiles—things like water and gases—when a massive asteroid crash formed the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon.
💥 Think of it like a T20 cricket six that reshapes the whole pitch: this giant impact didn't just leave a huge basin; it also heated up the lunar interior, causing light elements to vaporize and escape. It helps explain why the side facing away from Earth is so different.
⚙️ Since the moon formed, asteroid hits have been the main force reshaping its surface. Craters, basins, and changes in its chemistry all come from these cosmic collisions.
- SPA Basin: the largest known impact crater on the moon
- Volatiles: materials that evaporate easily, like water and gases
- Near vs. far side: different topography and chemistry
For curious minds across South and Southeast Asia, this discovery is a step closer to unlocking our moon's hidden history. Stay tuned—more lunar secrets are waiting to be found! 🚀🌖
Reference(s):
Chang'e-6 lunar sample unveils key clues to moon's geological evolution
cgtn.com
