China has released the “most detailed” geologic map of the lunar to date, which may be anticipated to aid scientific research, exploration, and landing point selection on the Earth’s sole natural satellite.
China has released a new comprehensive geologic map of the #Moon to a scale of 1:2,500,000, the most detailed to date. (CGTN) pic.twitter.com/TPWk110CqR
— Eddie Du (@Edourdooo) June 8, 2022
China’s state media reported the new map will aid in future moon research, which includes details of previously uncharted craters and structures.
The high resolution topographic map was created by Chinese scientists from various research institutes and universities using information from China’s lunar exploration ‘Chang’e project’ as well as other data and research observations from international organisations.
According to the report, the new significant geologic map of the moon is to a scale of 1:2,500,000 and is the “most detailed to date.”
In cooperation with Nasa and the Lunar Planetary Institute, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre mapped and categorised the entire moon’s surface for the very first time in 2020.
The map displays 12,341 impact craters, 81 impact basins, 17 rock types, and 14 structure types, offering a wealth of information about the Earth’s only natural satellite geology and transformation.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Geochemistry oversaw the map project. In recent decades, China has sent many space-probes to the moon. This detailed map is expected to contribute significantly to scientific research.
The previous map of the moon, designed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Centre in 2020, was to a scale of 1:5,000,000.