• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

China Shares First Images from Moon Landing

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - January 4, 2019

After Chang’e 4 safely touched down, the lander’s cameras sent back this image of the Von Karman crater that its rover will now explore. Image: China National Space Administration
After Chang’e 4 safely touched down, the lander’s cameras sent back this image of the Von Karman crater that its rover will now explore. Image: China National Space Administration




China continues to make history after landing on the Far Side of the Moon, also referred to as the “Dark Side.” The Yutu rover left the Chang’e-4 spacecraft to begin exploring the Moon yesterday.

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a Tweet,  “Congratulations to China’s Chang’e-4 team for what appears to be a successful landing on the far side of the Moon. This is a first for humanity and an impressive accomplishment!”




The Yutu Rover departs the Chang'e-4 spacecraft ahead of exploring the Far Side of the Moon. Image: China National Space Administration
The Yutu Rover departs the Chang’e-4 spacecraft ahead of exploring the Far Side of the Moon. Image: China National Space Administration

This historic space mission is extraordinary because of how difficult it is. Due to tidal locking, the “dark” side of the Moon never faces the earth. For prior missions to the Moon, NASA astronauts visited the “lit” side of the Moon that faces Earth. In addition to always being in view of Earth, it’s easier to communicate, send data, and control spacecraft directly to/from Earth from the side of the Moon that faces it. While some refer to the sides of the moon as dark or light, both get the same amount of night and day as it rotates in step with the Earth.




Once systems are checked-out, the Yutu rover will begin to conduct experiments on the Moon’s Far Side. Chang’e 4 will perform a series of radio astronomy experiments and test whether plants can grow in the moon’s gravity. China hopes to set-up a manned base on the Moon in the coming years and plan to use learnings from this successful Moon landing to make future missions successful too.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Tropics Quiet for Labor Day Holiday Weekend
  • Weak Earthquake Rattles New Hampshire Today
  • Tropical Storm Juliette to Bring Los Angeles & Southern California Rain
  • 14 Earthquakes Strike South Carolina; Officials Warn Stronger Ones Could Be On the Way
  • Dozens Report Shaking as Morning Earthquake Strikes Maine Coast
  • NASA Will Attempt to Use Rockets to Put Glowing Clouds in Mid Atlantic Sky Tonight
  • Multiple Rockets to Light Up Mid Atlantic Sky with Colors Tonight
  • As Fernand Moves Away, No Tropical Threats to U.S.
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022