Beijing Unveils Chang’e-5 Lunar Treasures: A Journey Through Moon’s Mysteries

Photo: CCTV

A showcase featuring Chang’e-5 lunar specimens has been unveiled to the public at the Beijing Planetarium since Saturday afternoon. In addition to 0.6 grams of lunar soil returned by Chang’e-5, the exhibit also incorporates Moon rocks gathered by Apollo 17 and meteorites from Northwest Africa, providing significant understanding into the Moon’s formation and development, according to CCTV News.

In December 2020, the Chang’e-5 undertaking successfully brought back lunar soil specimens from the Moon, initiating scientific analysis of these specimens. With the persistent increase of national scientific and technological prowess and overall national strength, China has emerged as the third nation globally to effectively recover lunar samples, signifying a pivotal moment in both China’s and humanity’s journey of lunar exploration.

The exhibition emphasizes the lunar specimens obtained by Chang’e-5. The central displays consist of lunar soil samples with differing particle sizes, exhibited from various angles to offer the audience an unparalleled interactive encounter.

Photo: CCTV

A total of 0.6 grams of lunar soil is showcased. The exhibit also highlights other valuable lunar samples, such as Moon rock gathered by Apollo 17 and lunar meteorites sourced from Northwest Africa. These lunar materials, obtained at various intervals and by different methods, have furnished scientists with diverse approaches to examining the Moon’s origins and development.

The exhibition presents the lunar soil utilizing robotic arms, large-diameter hemispherical lenses, stereomicroscopes, XCT scanning, and three-dimensional digital reconstruction technology, enabling the public to closely inspect the lunar soil through microscopes and explore its genuine condition.

The showcase further introduces the “Chang’e stone,” a novel mineral discovered and named from the Chang’e-5 lunar samples. This marks the first new lunar mineral identified by Chinese scientists and the sixth overall discovered by mankind. China has thus become the third nation to recognize a new mineral on the Moon.

Global Times