Chinese scientists say the lunar far side appears dryer than the near side
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Based on a comparison of samples brought back by two Chinese unmanned lunar landers, Chinese scientists believe the lunar far side contains far less water in its mantle than the near side.
…the research team focused on analyzing water content and hydrogen isotopes in melt inclusions and apatite within [Chang’e-6] mare basalts—the first samples returned from the farside SPA Basin.
The team’s results indicate that the parent magma of these basalts contain 15–168 μg.g⁻¹ of water. Additionally, the team estimated that the mantle source of the CE6 basalts has a water content of 1–1.5 μg.g⁻¹, significantly lower than that of the nearside mantle. This disparity points to a potential hemispheric dichotomy in the Moon’s internal water distribution, mirroring many of the asymmetrical features observed on the lunar surface.
The map to the right, figure 1 in the scientists’ paper, shows the water content from the samples that have so far been brought back from the Moon. Note how the Chang’e-6 sample shows far less water content than all the near side samples.
Note however also that this is just one data point from the far side. To confirm these conclusions will require many more samples.
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Click for original image.
Based on a comparison of samples brought back by two Chinese unmanned lunar landers, Chinese scientists believe the lunar far side contains far less water in its mantle than the near side.
…the research team focused on analyzing water content and hydrogen isotopes in melt inclusions and apatite within [Chang’e-6] mare basalts—the first samples returned from the farside SPA Basin.
The team’s results indicate that the parent magma of these basalts contain 15–168 μg.g⁻¹ of water. Additionally, the team estimated that the mantle source of the CE6 basalts has a water content of 1–1.5 μg.g⁻¹, significantly lower than that of the nearside mantle. This disparity points to a potential hemispheric dichotomy in the Moon’s internal water distribution, mirroring many of the asymmetrical features observed on the lunar surface.
The map to the right, figure 1 in the scientists’ paper, shows the water content from the samples that have so far been brought back from the Moon. Note how the Chang’e-6 sample shows far less water content than all the near side samples.
Note however also that this is just one data point from the far side. To confirm these conclusions will require many more samples.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Wait for it. The Globull Hoaxers will no blame America for Lunar Warming, Lunar Climate Change. Soon to be followed by the Lunar Climate Crisis.
Sine the Moon is tidally Locked with Earth could some of this water disparity come from the difference in the amount of light on each side of the moon?
Its not like the dark side of the moon is actually without sunlight. Its faces the sun just as much as all other sides.
But the back side never gets shadowed by the Earth. No crescent moon on the backside.