The moon has always been a celestial muse, inspiring humanity’s imaginations while keeping many of its secrets hidden in the shadows. Some of the lunar mysteries may be close to being uncovered.

Now, thanks to China’s groundbreaking Chang’e-6 mission, the enigmatic far side of the moon is unveiling fresh chapters of its ancient story.

This year, the uncrewed Chang’e-6 mission achieved a historic feat: returning 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds) of lunar soil and rock from the moon’s far side—an area never before sampled. This monumental achievement has not only highlighted China’s rising prominence in space exploration but has also left scientists and dreamers alike marveling at what these samples reveal.

A Volcanic Past, Unearthed

Unlike the near side of the moon, where NASA’s Apollo and Russia’s Luna missions gathered material over half a century ago, the far side had remained largely uncharted territory. The Chang’e-6 mission uncovered something remarkable: volcanic rocks dating back 2.8 billion years.

“These findings suggest that volcanic activity persisted on the moon much longer than we thought, at least on the far side,” said Dr. Wei Zhang, a planetary scientist at the National Astronomical Observatories of China.

This discovery challenges previous assumptions that lunar volcanic activity ceased more than 3 billion years ago. The far side’s younger volcanic basalts are reshaping how scientists understand the moon’s thermal and geological evolution.

Why Is the Far Side Different?

The far side of the moon, often mistakenly called the “dark side,” receives just as much sunlight as the near side but has a thicker crust and fewer maria—those vast, dark plains formed by ancient volcanic flows. The Chang’e-6 samples indicate that this thicker crust may have influenced how and when volcanic eruptions occurred.

“This raises profound questions about the internal dynamics of the moon,” said Dr. Lila Romero, a lunar geologist based in the United States. “What could have sustained volcanic activity on one side while the other fell dormant?”

A Bridge Between Eras

The Chang’e-6 mission’s findings also offer a rare glimpse into the “middle age” of the moon. Previously studied samples from NASA’s Apollo missions, which focused on the near side, were all over 3 billion years old. The relatively younger basalt from the far side could help bridge the gap between these ancient formations and the moon’s later, quieter history.

The implications aren’t just academic. “By understanding the moon’s geological past, we might unlock clues about Earth’s own history,” added Romero.

New Mysteries Await

As the Chang’e-6 samples undergo further analysis, scientists are already buzzing with questions. Why did volcanic activity linger on the far side? Could the composition of the moon’s crust hold answers to mysteries about its formation—and even the birth of the Earth-moon system?

For those of us staring up at the night sky, the moon’s allure is only deepening. These findings remind us that even familiar celestial neighbors still hold surprises.

The Far Side’s Future

The far side of the moon is no longer just the stuff of mystery and metaphor. With more missions planned, including potential human exploration, its secrets might soon become part of a shared cosmic heritage.

Until then, the moon continues to whisper its ancient tales, leaving us to wonder what revelations await in its shadows.