China has completed a detailed geological map of the entire moon at a scale of 1:5,000,000, utilizing data from the Chang’e lunar exploration program. Led by scientists at the Institute of Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the project identifies over 13,000 impact craters and establishes a comprehensive reference for future exploration missions.
Researchers at the Institute of Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences have finished compiling a comprehensive geological map of the entire moon. Built at a scale of 1:5,000,000, the map relies on data gathered through China’s Chang’e lunar exploration program to document the distribution of surface features and internal structures across the lunar body.
Mapping Impact Craters and Lunar Structures
The newly compiled map catalogs more than 13,000 impact craters and 81 impact basins. Beyond these major depressions, the project classifies 14 distinct types of geological structures and 17 types of rocks distributed across the lunar surface. To make the large amount of data manageable without sacrificing clarity, the mapping team utilized varying standards for different geological features, preserving intricate details while maintaining overall readability.
Measuring approximately 280 centimeters long and 120 centimeters high, the main map is accompanied by separate geological charts focusing specifically on the moon’s north and south polar regions.
Refining Geological Timelines and Rock Inventories
The project provides an updated framework for understanding the moon’s long geological history by refining the chronology of major events. Researchers revised the dating of the Aitkenian period—defined by the creation of the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which stands as the moon’s largest known impact basin—to 4.33 billion years ago. Additionally, the team established start dates of 4.17 billion years ago for the Nectarian period and 3.92 billion years ago for the Imbrian period.
Supported by findings from the Chang’e 4 and Chang’e 6 missions, the study also delivers the first global subdivision of the moon’s later geological history. By utilizing higher-resolution maps of mineral distribution alongside improved classification standards, scientists updated the inventory of lunar rocks and minerals. Analysis of physical samples enabled researchers to identify a previously unrecognized rock type named gabbronorite, a dark, coarse-grained igneous formation generated deep underground within the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This discovery grants rare direct physical evidence regarding materials originating beneath the lunar crust.
Applications for Future Exploration and Mars Targeting
According to Yang Zhiming, director of the institute, the completed atlas will furnish vital scientific backing for upcoming Chinese endeavors, including the construction of lunar research stations, the selection of landing sites, and broader deep-space exploration goals. Building upon these lunar mapping techniques and leveraging artificial intelligence technologies, the team now intends to compile a new-generation 1:5,000,000-scale geological map of Mars to aid the planned Tianwen 3 mission.
