The far side of the moon was once a vast magma ocean, Chinese lunar lander confirms

中国月球着陆器证实，月球背面曾是广阔的岩浆海洋

Recent findings from samples collected by China's Chang'e 6 mission have provided valuable insights into the history of the moon, particularly its far side.

中国嫦娥六号采集的样本的最新研究结果，为揭示月球——尤其是其背面的历史提供了宝贵线索。

The Chang'e 6 mission launched in early May 2024, landed in the vast South Pole-Aitken (SPA), and returned to Earth with 4 pounds and 4.29 ounces (1,935.3 grams) of the first-ever samples from the moon's far side in late June.

嫦娥六号探测器于2024年5月初发射，在广阔的南极-艾特肯盆地 (SPA)成功着陆，并于6月下旬携带着总重4磅4.29盎司（约合1935.3克）的首批月球背面样本返回地球。

New research from scientists with the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences and published in the journal Science found that sample analysis backs up an established model of the moon as a global liquid magma ocean in the early days after its formation and likely lasted for tens to hundreds of millions of years.

中国地质科学院科学家团队在《科学》上发表的最新研究表明，对月球样本的分析验证了现有月球演化模型——月球在形成初期曾处于全球液态岩浆海洋状态，这一状态可能持续了数千万至数亿年。

By analyzing basalt fragments retrieved from this region, the scientists discovered that these rocks share a similar composition to low-titanium basalts previously collected by NASA's Apollo missions to the moon's near side. This connection helps to build a more complete picture of the moon's volcanic processes.

通过分析该地区采集的玄武岩碎片，科学家们发现这些岩石的成分与美国宇航局阿波罗计划在月球正面采集的低钛玄武岩具有相似性。这一发现有助于构建更完整的月球火山活动演化图景。

At the same time, some of the material in the Chang'e 6 samples deviated from those of the Apollo missions in terms of the ratio of certain Uranium and Lead isotopes. Explaining this, the paper proposes that the gigantic impact which formed the roughly 1,600 mile (2,500 kilometers) wide SPA basin around 4.2 billion years ago modified the chemical and physical properties of the moon's mantle in this region.

同时，嫦娥六号样本中的部分物质在铀铅同位素比例方面与阿波罗样本存在偏差。为解释这种差异，研究论文提出：约42亿年前形成了直径约1600英里（2500公里）的南极-艾特肯盆地的那次巨型撞击，改变了该地区月幔的化学和物理性质。

Chang'e 6 was China's second lunar sample return mission, following on from the 2020 Chang'e 5 mission to the moon's near side. Initial analysis of the Chang'e 6 samples suggests a number of differences to nearside samples, including differences in density, structure and concentrations of signature chemicals.

嫦娥六号是继2020年嫦娥五号成功完成了近月侧采样任务后，中国实施的第二次月球采样返回任务。对嫦娥六号样本的初步分析显示，样本在密度、结构特征和标志性化学物质浓度等多个方面，都与近月侧样本存在差异。

Further analysis could lead to new concepts and theories regarding the origin and evolution of the moon, according to scientists.

科学家表示，进一步的样本分析或将催生关于月球起源和演化的新概念和新理论。