China releases 360-degree images of the Moon's hidden side
(Baonghean.vn) - On January 11, China released a panoramic photo of the far side of the Moon. An impressive image with gray tones, scattered with craters on the Moon.
The images were sent back from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched into space in early January. These images were then converted into 360-degree images by Associate Professor of Physics and Chemistry Thomas Appéré, allowing viewers to observe as above.
The images were taken by Yutu 2, a small wheeled robot, after the spacecraft landed on the Moon to conduct analysis. They were released by the Chinese space agency (CNSA) on Friday.
The landing of Chang'e-4 on the far side of the Moon was the first in astronomical history. It was considered a crucial step in China's ambitious space program. And up to this point, China has assessed it as a "complete success".
The craters near Yutu 2: 20 meters wide and 4 meters deep will be a challenge for engineers, according to Li Chunlai, the ground application system controller of the Chang'e-4 spacecraft.
As for Chang’e-4, Yutu-2 and the Queqiao satellite responsible for sending information back to Earth “are in a stable state and all programs are proceeding as planned,” CNSA said. The current mission is “approaching the scientific exploration phase.”
Equipped with Chinese, German and Swedish instruments, the Chang'e-4 spacecraft will conduct research on the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between the solar wind and the lunar surface. Scientists believe that the dark side of the Moon is an important area for understanding the internal structure and temperature evolution of the Moon.
