Hey there, future space explorers! 🚀 Have you ever wondered what secrets the moon holds? Well, scientists have made an incredible discovery that might just blow your mind! 🌟
The Moon’s Fiery Past 🌕🔥
A team of scientists from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) studied samples collected by the Chang’e-6 mission. And guess what they found? Evidence that our moon was once covered by a massive “magma ocean”—that’s like a giant sea of molten rock! 🌋
What Is a Magma Ocean? 🌊
Imagine the entire moon being so hot that its surface was melted rock. That’s what a magma ocean is! As the moon cooled down over billions of years, this molten rock hardened to form the crust and mantle we see today.
Chang’e-6’s Groundbreaking Mission 🚀
In 2024, the Chang’e-6 mission became the first to bring back samples from the moon’s far side—the side we never see from Earth! 🌚 They collected nearly 2 kilograms of lunar rocks and soil from a place called the Apollo Basin within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the biggest craters in the inner solar system! 🌌
Similar Rocks, New Clues 🕵️♀️
Scientists found that the volcanic rocks (called basalt) from both the near side and far side of the moon are very similar. This means the magma ocean might have covered the whole moon! 🌕
Why Is This Important? 🤔
Understanding the moon’s history helps us learn more about how the Earth and other planets formed. Since Earth has weather and tectonic plates that change its surface, many ancient clues are gone. But the moon is like a time capsule, keeping secrets from billions of years ago! 🔭
What’s Next? 🌠
The scientists are super excited to keep studying these samples. They hope to find more about the moon’s early history and maybe even discover materials from deep inside the moon’s mantle! 🛰️
Become a Space Detective! 🛸
Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be the one to uncover the next big space mystery! Keep dreaming big and reaching for the stars! ✨
Reference(s):
Chang'e-6 samples provide evidence of "magma ocean" on early moon
cgtn.com
