China updates global Moon geological map with Chang'e-6 data

China has released an updated global geological map of the Moon, incorporating fresh data from the Chang'e-6 mission, which successfully collected the first samples from the lunar far side. This revision offers a refined geological timeline and introduces new findings regarding the Moon's internal composition.

The new map, rendered at a scale of 1:5 million, identifies over 13,000 impact craters and 81 basins. It classifies 14 types of geological structures and 17 rock types, integrating the latest results from China's lunar exploration program, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

A significant update is the revision of the lunar geological timeline, adjusting the ages of several periods and providing a more detailed subdivision of the Moon's most recent strata. The map also incorporates discoveries from the Chang'e-6 mission, which returned lunar samples in 2024. Researchers identified gabbronorite in the South Pole-Aitken basin for the first time, offering insights into materials from the Moon's deep interior.

Scientists developed new cartographic criteria to more clearly represent global geological formations without sacrificing scientific detail. This update complements, rather than replaces, the 1:2.5 million scale geological map published by Chinese scientists in 2024, which was considered the most detailed at the time. The new map builds upon subsequent scientific advancements, particularly those derived from analyzing the Chang'e-6 samples.

China also presented a high-precision map in 2023 detailing the lunar surface's chemical composition, based on samples from the Chang'e-5, Apollo, and Luna missions, aiming to deepen the study of the Moon's geological and volcanic evolution. Officials stated the new map will aid future exploration missions, the selection of landing sites, and the development of the planned International Lunar Research Station, spearheaded by China.

Looking ahead, China plans to launch the Chang'e-7 mission in the latter half of this year to explore the lunar south pole for water ice. This will be followed by Chang'e-8, designed to assess the utilization of these resources. Concurrently, China is pursuing a crewed lunar program with the stated goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the Moon before 2030.