I often focus on astronomy in the United States, given this is where I live, but it's important to not forget that many other countries are doing some amazing astronomy research. China is one of those countries. On January 3, 2019, just two days after New Horizons flew by 2014 MU69, China successfully landed the Chang'e-4 lunar probe on the far side of the Moon.
Significance
Several spacecraft, including a few human missions, have successfully landed on the surface of the Moon, so what is the significance of this mission? This is the first mission to successfully land on the far side of the Moon facing away from Earth. All other successful landing sites were on the near, Earth facing side of the Moon.
Far Side
The Moon rotates on its own axis at the same rate it orbits the Earth. Thus it always shows the same side to the Earth. The far side of the Moon is unexplored and the Chang'e-4 probe will provide more information on the side of the Moon facing away from us. Note that there is no 'dark' side to the Moon and any media reports of a dark side are simply false. All portions of the Moon are illuminated at some time in the Moon's orbit about Earth, just as all portions of Earth are illuminated as it rotates on its own axis as orbits the Sun.
First Images
As with the New Horizons mission two days ago, images thus far are the very first images and more are certainly to come. Here is one of the first released images of the far side of the Moon from this mission.
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| A view of the Moon as seen by the Chang'e-4 lunar probe. - EPA/CNSA |
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