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China's Jade Rabbit lunar rover unravels complex geological history of Moon

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ANI Beijing

China's Yutu or Jade Rabbit Lunar rover has helped astronomers unravel the "complex" geological history of Moon.

Ground-penetrating radar measurements taken by Yutu revealed at least nine subsurface layers beneath its landing site, indicating that multiple geologic processes have taken place there, the China Daily reported.

Lead author Xiao Long, professor of the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, said that 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.

One of the most interesting findings was a layer at depths of 140 meters to 240 meters.

 

Yutu was part of China's Chang'e-3 moon mission, which delivered the rover and a stationary lander to the lunar surface on Dec. 14, 2013, marking the first moon landing since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission in 1976.

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First Published: Mar 13 2015 | 11:03 AM IST

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