Researchers find unexplained ‘gel-like substance’ on far side of the Moon

China’s exploration of the far side of the moon has come to a halt after the discovery of a mysterious gel-like substance.

On July 28, the Yutu-2 science team at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center was preparing to power down the rover, a process that prevents the delicate machinery from overheating when the Sun is directly overhead.

But teammember Yu Tianyi noticed something unusual in the crater while checking apanorama photographed by Yutu-2. So, the researchers kept the rover awake justa little bit longer, rolling it over to the crater for a better look.

Yutu-2carefully approached the crater and then targeted the unusually coloredmaterial and its surroundings. The rover examined both areas with its Visibleand Near-Infrared Spectrometer (VNIS), which detects light that is scattered orreflected off materials to reveal their makeup.

According to the rover’s drive diary, this material differed from the surrounding regolith in shape, color, and texture. No photos of the finding have been released yet, only one of the rover heading to the crater to look at what it’s inside.

Missionscientists haven’t offered any indication as to the nature of the coloredsubstance and have said only that it is “gel-like” and has an“unusual color.” One possible explanation, outside researcherssuggested, is that the substance is melt glass created from meteorites strikingthe surface of the moon.

This is notthe first-time scientists get surprised by a lunar discovery. Apollo 17astronaut Harrison Schmitt discovered orange-colored soil near the mission’sTaurus-Littrow landing site in 1972. Lunar geologists eventually concluded thatthe orange soil was created during an explosive volcanic eruption 3.64 billionyears ago.

The Chinese lunar rover launched in early December 201 and made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon in January. 3. The Yutu-2 rover had covered a total of 890 feet (271 meters) by the end of lunar day 8. Now, during lunar day 9, Yutu-2 will continue its journey west.