A new discovery reveals how different the two sides of the moon are

The moon is seriously two sides. The nearby sides and far from the only natural satellite of the earth are so restrictive of each other, it is a wonder that they are located on the same celestial sphere. Now new research suggests that they only thought it than astronomers.

A study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Geoscience revealed that the evidence suggests that the interior of the mysterious side of the moon could be much colder than the nearby side, which constantly faces the earth. The results, according to the authors, show that the geological differences between the two faces of the moon extend far below the surface, bringing the astronomers together to determine why they are so without swinging.

“This is one of the great mysteries of the moon,” said co-author Yang Li, an associate professor of land and planetary sciences at the University College of London and at the University of Peking, in a version of the UCL. “We call it the moon with two sides. A dramatic difference in temperature between the nearby side and far from the coat has long been supposed, but our study provides the first proof using real samples. ”

Satellite two sides of the earth

Astronomers once thought that the nearby and far from the moon were relatively similar, but as their studies on the lunar surface have developed in the last 60 years, they have started to notice striking geological differences. For example, only 1% of the distant side of the moon presents Maria – Dark plains created by ancient volcanic eruptions. On the other hand, 31% of the nearby side is covered with Maria.

The observations of several lunar orbits have also shown that the rocks on the distant side have chemical compositions clearly different from those on the nearby side. In addition, the orbits of the Grail twin of NASA discovered that the crust on the distant side was on average about 12 miles (20 kilometers) thicker than that close to that.

These dichotomies can be retraced to the formation and evolution of the moon, which are intrinsically linked to the history of the earth. Scientists largely believe that our planet and its satellite have formed when an object of the size of a Mars struck the proto-terre about 4.5 billion years ago. Thus, studying the geological differences between the two parts of the Moon also offers an overview of the Original History of the Earth.

Discover an old temperature difference

The Li samples and its colleagues analyzed were fragments of rock collected by the spacecraft China Chang’e 6, which was launched on the other side of the Moon in May 2024. The chemical composition of the sample of 2.8 billion dollars, which suggests that it is formed from deep lava of the lunar surface at a temperature of around 2.012 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 degrees Celasiles). This is about 200 ° F (100 ° C) cooler than temperature samples on the nearby side formed at.

Although their analysis has not revealed the current temperature difference between the near and far from the moon, the researchers note that this gap would have persisted for a very long time – perhaps to date. They hypothesize that the interior of the distant side can be cooler because it has fewer elements that release heat because they undergo radioactive disintegration, such as uranium, thorium and potassium.

According to some previous studies, the unequal distribution of these elements can come from a massive asteroid impact on the other side which has pushed the densest materials containing these elements in the nearby side. Others suggest that the moon can have collided with a smaller moon at the beginning of its history, and therefore close and distant samples come from two thermal differently different bodies. Or, it may be that the interior on the near side is warmer due to the gravitational attraction of the earth.

Whatever the cause, this Chang’e 6 sample seems to have confirmed another confusing difference between the two faces of the moon. To determine exactly what it tells us about the history of our cosmic companion will require additional research. At least for the moment, the researchers find themselves with more questions than answers.