What characteristic does analysis of returned rock samples suggest about the Moon's crust on the far side?
Answer
It is generally thicker than the near side crust.
Scientific analysis of rock samples, particularly those obtained near the boundary by missions like Chang'e 5, has illuminated fundamental structural differences between the two lunar hemispheres. The findings indicate that the crust on the far side is generally thicker compared to the crust found on the near side. This thicker crust is theorized to be the primary reason why fewer large basaltic lava flows erupted onto the surface to form the extensive maria observed on the near side. Understanding this crustal asymmetry is a primary goal for future scientific exploration of the less volcanic far side.
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