China publishes first geological atlas of the Moon in high definition

A China presented the world with the pioneering high-definition lunar geological atlas. This book covers a series of maps of Moon with an impressive scale of 1:2.5 million, providing crucial data for future investigations and exploratory missions of our natural satellite. Available in Chinese and English, the atlas understands both the Global Geological Atlas of the Moon as the Map Quadranglesas detailed by the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

“The geological atlas of the Moon is of great importance for studying the evolution of the moon, selecting the site for a future lunar research station, and utilizing lunar resources. It can also help us better understand the Earth and other planets in the solar system, like Mars”as emphasized in the The globe per Ouyang ZiyuanCAS academic and lunar scientist.

Lunar geological atlas

Gregory Michaelhe also stated to the newspaper O Globo that “This map, in particular, is the first on a global scale to utilize all data from the post-Apollo era. It builds on the achievements of the international community over the past few decades. It will be a starting point for all new questions of lunar geology and will become a primary resource for researchers studying lunar processes of all types.” Michael is a senior scientist at Free University of Berlinat Germany.

No fewer than 12,341 impact craters, 81 impact basins, 17 types of lithologies and 14 types of structures are mapped, providing a comprehensive view of the lunar surface. The compilation of this atlas was led by Ouyang Ziyuan and Liu Jianzhongwith the support of a team of scientists and cartographers from relevant research institutions since 2012.

* Under the supervision of Lilian Coelho