Discovering the Moon’s Secrets: Why the Farside Interior is Cooler Than the Nearside!

WASHINGTON — The moon is often described as “two-faced” because the side facing Earth looks so different from the side facing away. Recent findings from China’s Chang’e-6 mission, which took place in 2024, reveal even more about these differences.

Scientists discovered that rocks and soil from the moon’s farside formed from lava deep within the lunar mantle, about 60 miles down, around 2.8 billion years ago. This lava cooled at around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, rocks collected from the nearside of the moon during NASA’s Apollo missions and a prior Chinese mission were formed at much higher temperatures—about 180 degrees Fahrenheit hotter.

According to geoscientist Yang Li, who led the study published in *Nature Geoscience*, this variation highlights the “thermal asymmetry” between the two sides of the moon. Differences in surface features, such as volcanism and crust thickness, have persisted through time.

The farside has a thicker crust and is more rugged, while the nearside is smoother and covered in volcanic plains. Historically, the nearside was more volcanically active, leading to its characteristic dark basalts. Both sides of the moon formed around 4.5 billion years ago from melted rock that erupted from the mantle.

The Chang’e-6 lander targeted the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a region with a thinner crust, which offered a unique opportunity to study lunar volcanism. This area is a significant impact crater, making it easier to learn about the moon’s volcanic history.

Chang’e-6 collected samples using a scoop and drill before returning them to Earth, landing in Inner Mongolia. The samples reveal the moon’s complex interior and its ongoing geological differences.

These temperature differences may stem from the distribution of elements like uranium and thorium. Some scientists believe an early massive impact might have altered the moon’s structure, shifting denser, heat-producing materials to the nearside. Others suggest that the moon may have formed from a collision between two smaller moons, affecting its current thermal state.

Understanding the differences between the nearside and farside could shed light on the moon’s formation and evolution, and may even provide insights into the geological histories of other planets.

Recent discussions on social media highlight growing interest in lunar exploration. Posts sharing updates from Chang’e-6 have gone viral, showing that many are eager to learn more about the moon and its mysteries.

For more on lunar studies, you can explore NASA’s findings on lunar geology [here](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/index.html) and read about China’s space missions [here](http://www.space.com/china-chang-e-6). Explore these resources to grasp how ongoing research is reshaping our understanding of the moon.

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