China reveals drier lunar far side, offering vital clues to moon’s origin

A pioneering study based on lunar samples returned by China’s Chang’e-6 mission has revealed that the Moon’s far side contains significantly less water than its near side, providing fresh evidence supporting the prevailing theory of the Moon’s violent origin. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The research confirms that the water content in the Moon’s far-side mantle – the thick layer beneath the surface – is less than 2 micrograms per gram. This marks the lowest water concentration ever recorded in lunar rock, suggesting the "hidden hemisphere" that faces away from Earth is considerably drier than the side visible from our planet.

The study reinforces the widely accepted impact hypothesis: that the Moon formed following a colossal collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body around 4.5 billion years ago.

The Moon’s far side, permanently turned away from Earth due to tidal locking, has long intrigued scientists because of its distinct geology. Differences in volcanic activity, crustal thickness, and chemical composition have been observed, and the new study adds water content to the list of asymmetries.

In the near future, China plans to build a research outpost on the Moon and send astronauts there before 2030.

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