China’s National Space Administration has released close-up pictures so far Cube formation was detected on the moon In December the rover was called the “Mystery House” by Yutu 2 through its outreach project Our Space.
Yudu2 took the first images of the object last month as part of a new mission to the distant surface of the moon. The photos revealed an unusual shape, but the low resolution due to the distance made it difficult to distinguish their true nature.
Object captured by the Yudu-2 rover at a distance from the moon. Photo: Composition / CNSA
After the photos are released, Internet users guess from different latitudes – many in a paradoxical way – about the object. They refer to anything from “palace on the moon” to “alien site”. As expected, the experts expressed their doubts about these theories and chose the attributes A natural look.
Hunting for a mystery on the moon
For that reason, equipment that operates from Earth to spacecraft is a part of it Lunar Exploration Mission Chang’e 4, At that time – in early December – at 80 meters, focused on directing it towards the object located next to an impact crater.
Initial calculations determined that the tour would take at least two months. However, scientists have paved the way for the rover to travel faster. Describe our location In its latest release.
Yutu 2 went between a series of impact craters and rough lunar relief. After traveling 60 meters the night came and the rover was inactive for several days. Finally, he ‘woke up’ on December 27 and walked straight to the ‘Mystery Cabin’. Up to 10 meters Start taking pictures from it.
Panoramic image taken by Yudu 2. Photo: CNSA
From cube to lonely rock
The wide photo shows the object at the edge of the abyss. The zoomed image reveals that it is a single rock, the shape of which is very different from that of a cube or any other structure mentioned in general speculation.
However, scientists have found a certain resemblance to a rabbit in the rock.
So they decided to name it Rover Yudu (‘Jade Rabbit’, In Spanish). The name also refers to the famous Chinese legend about one of these rodents that lived on the moon and made various elixirs.
The enlarged part of the image reveals the rock, which was eventually compared to the shape of a rabbit. Photo: CNSA
Researchers plan to go even closer to determine how this rock ended up there. Previously, this material was thought to be part of the lunar surface, which was ejected after the impact of the meteorite.
Traveling the distance to the moon
Meanwhile, our space details have been released that this Thursday the rover crossed a kilometer journey on the lunar surface. From landing on January 3, 2019 to the present, A total of 1,003.9 meters has been surveyed.
Right now, the Yudu2 is asleep due to the lunar night, which loses two weeks of sunlight needed for the operation of the space mobile.
For now, China is the only country with an active rover on our natural satellite. This may change soon as NASA plans to send su First lunar rover As part of his Artemis project.
