New Type Of Rock Discovered On The Moon

Space





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Yutu, photographed by its lander Chang'e-3, as it began its journey, which included sampling rocks of a composition never directly measured before. CNSA/CLEP

Yutu, the Chinese rover deployed by the lander Chang'e-3, has found a new type of lunar rock, something never before studied on the Moon or Earth.

It has been 45 years since the Apollo 11 astronauts brought back the first Moon rocks, and 39 years since Luna 24 returned further samples, but discoveries have not stopped. Two years ago, Chang'e-3 landed next to a recent impact crater within the Imbrium basin. Yutu moseyed over to sample the rim of what is now known as Zi Wei crater (Purple Palace in English).