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introduction
In the vast universe, the moon, as the closest neighbor of the earth, carries the endless curiosity and dreams of human beings. However, what kind of secrets are hidden in the far side of the moon, that mysterious realm that has never been directly met by human eyes?
Is the "Antarctica-Aitken Basin", a land full of craters, buried with metal treasures equivalent to 2,180 trillion tons, a miracle of nature or a gift from the universe?
A metal treasure on the back
On the far and mysterious far side of the moon, there is a place known as the "South Pole of the Moon" by scientists, and that is the famous "South Pole-Aitken Basin". Unlike the familiar front of the moon, there is no quiet sea here, but it is full of ancient craters, as if recording the vicissitudes of the universe.
But what really excites scientists is the amazing secret hidden in this area - a metal giant weighing 2,180 trillion tons is hidden deep underground!
It all started with a fine measurement of the moon's gravitational field. When scientists used advanced satellite technology, such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Gravity Recovery and Internal Laboratory, to conduct a comprehensive scan of the moon, they were surprised to find that the gravity field in the South Pole-Aitken Basin was unusually high.
After a series of complex data analysis, scientists have confirmed that this is not an accidental error, but a real gravity anomaly, which means that under the crust of the region, lurking an extremely dense object with a staggering mass.
So, where is this mysterious piece of metal sacred? How does it quietly lurk under the moon? Scientists have come up with two main hypotheses around this mysterious phenomenon in an attempt to unravel the mystery of metal.
The first is the ancient asteroid impact theory. At the beginning of the Moon's formation, the solar system was still in chaos, with countless asteroids rampage through space.
Among them, a particularly large asteroid may have collided with the moon 4 billion years ago, and this impact not only left behind the huge crater of the "South Pole-Aitken Basin", but also embedded the core of the asteroid, which is rich in iron, nickel and other metals, deep under the moon's crust.
Over time, these metals cooled and solidified, becoming the gravitational anomalies we observe today. There is a lot of support for this theory, as similar metal remnants have been found on other celestial bodies, such as similar gravitational anomalies in certain regions on Mars, suggesting that they may have similar histories.
The other view is more concerned with the evolution of the moon itself. In the early days of the moon's formation, its interior was in a state of hot melting, like a huge magma lake.
At this stage, due to gravity, the material inside the Moon begins to stratify according to density, with heavier metallic elements gradually settling towards the Earth's center and lighter materials floating to the surface.
This process, known as "gravity differentiation", explains not only why the Moon's crust is mainly made up of silicate rocks, but also the origin of the metallic material in the lower part of the "South Pole-Aitken Basin".
In other words, these metals are not alien invaders, but are part of the Moon's own history, witnessing the Moon's transformation from a mass of red-hot magma to today's cold and hard moons.
Chang'e-6: A new chapter on the back of the moon
In the history of human exploration of the moon, Chang'e-6 has undoubtedly written a strong stroke. The goal of this mission is the mysterious "South Pole-Aitken Basin", an uncharted territory that hides the deep secrets of the moon.
The mission of Chang'e-6 is not only to land, but also to bring back precious lunar soil samples, unveil the mystery of the back of the moon, and open a new window for human understanding of the moon.
The destination of Chang'e-6 is the "Apollo Basin" in the northeast of the "Antarctica-Aitken Basin". This area was chosen because it is not only located in the heart of the metal anomaly, but also because the terrain is relatively flat, which is conducive to safe landings.
What's more, the geological structure here is believed to preserve the imprint of the Moon's early history, making it an ideal location to study the internal structure and evolution of the Moon.
Chang'e-6 is equipped with a range of advanced scientific instruments, including high-resolution cameras, multispectral imagers and mineral spectroscopy analyzers, which will help the probe comprehensively survey the geological features of the landing area and collect detailed imagery and spectral data.
In addition, Chang'e-6 is equipped with an automated sampling device capable of collecting soil and rock samples from the lunar surface, encapsulating them and sending them back to Earth. This series of technological innovations marks another leap forward in the field of deep space exploration and demonstrates the strength and ambition of the mainland's aerospace science and technology.
From 2 kg to the mysteries of the universe
Although the lunar soil samples brought back by Chang'e-6 are only 2 kilograms, the amount of information they contain is staggering. These tiny particles are not just the material on the surface of the Moon, they are the carriers of time, recording the evolutionary history of the Moon and the entire solar system.
Through isotopic analysis of lunar soil samples, scientists were able to accurately determine the age of the moon, as well as the chemical composition of the rocks on its surface.
This data will not only help model the formation of the Moon, giving us a deeper understanding of the far side of the Moon, but also provide clues to the early environment of the solar system.
For example, the abundance of certain elements in lunar soil can reflect the extent to which the lunar surface is affected by solar wind and cosmic rays, thus inferring changes in the lunar surface environment over time.
The mineral composition of lunar soil samples, especially the content of metallic elements, can indirectly reflect the structure and evolution of the Moon's interior. For example, if a higher percentage of metals such as iron and nickel are detected in the lunar soil, it may mean that there is a large metal core inside the moon, similar to that of Earth. Such a discovery would support the theory of "gravity differentiation" and unravel the mystery of the huge block of metal.
Lunar soil samples can also help scientists better understand the relationship between the Moon and the Earth. By comparing the composition of lunar soil with the Earth's rocks, it is possible to speculate whether the origin of the Moon is related to the Earth.
Some theories suggest that the Moon may have been born from debris from Earth during a massive impact event. Specific isotope ratios in lunar soil, if matched to Earth's rocks, would provide strong evidence for this theory.
The lunar soil samples brought back by Chang'e-6 are not only of great significance for current scientific research, but also provide an important reference for future lunar scientific research and resource development.
For example, helium-3 contained in lunar soil is a potential nuclear fusion fuel that could become an important source of energy for humans in the future. The in-depth study of lunar soil will help to assess the potential of the moon as a base for future human activities, including the establishment of a lunar base and the exploitation of lunar resources.
epilogue
Let us move on with reverence for the universe. In the days to come, whether it is going deep into every corner of the moon or exploring the distant sea of stars, the human spirit of exploration will always illuminate the way forward.
The mission of Chang'e-6 is not only to unveil the mystery of the back of the moon, but also to inspire each generation to bravely step into the unknown and embrace the infinite expanse of the universe.
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