swoods_blue
13th March 2015, 14:08
China's Yutu rover reveals Moon's "complex" geological history (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/13/c_134062659.htm)
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The moon's geological history is more complex than previously thought, preliminary results from China's first lunar rover, Yutu, suggested Thursday.
Ground-penetrating radar measurements taken by Yutu, also known as Jade Rabbit, revealed at least nine subsurface layers beneath its landing site, indicating that multiple geologic processes have taken place there.
"We have for the first time detected multiple subsurface layers (on the moon)," said lead author Xiao Long, professor of the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, attributing these layers to ancient lava flows and the weathering of rocks and boulders into regolith, or loose layers of dust, over the past 3.3 billion years or so.
Wow -- I didn't know they put ground-penetrating radar on that rover. Pretty interesting findings.
This was the first acknowledged moon landing (other than an explosive nuclear device) for 37 years.
I find the term "weathering" WRT the moon rather odd. Did it once have an atmosphere which provided weather?
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The moon's geological history is more complex than previously thought, preliminary results from China's first lunar rover, Yutu, suggested Thursday.
Ground-penetrating radar measurements taken by Yutu, also known as Jade Rabbit, revealed at least nine subsurface layers beneath its landing site, indicating that multiple geologic processes have taken place there.
"We have for the first time detected multiple subsurface layers (on the moon)," said lead author Xiao Long, professor of the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, attributing these layers to ancient lava flows and the weathering of rocks and boulders into regolith, or loose layers of dust, over the past 3.3 billion years or so.
Wow -- I didn't know they put ground-penetrating radar on that rover. Pretty interesting findings.
This was the first acknowledged moon landing (other than an explosive nuclear device) for 37 years.
I find the term "weathering" WRT the moon rather odd. Did it once have an atmosphere which provided weather?