The Yutu-2 image of the ‘mysterious hut’. (CNSA/CLEP/Our Space)
China's mysterious "Moon cube" is a mystery no longer. The big reveal: It's a rock that's not even shaped like a cube.
The nation's Yutu-2 rover discovered the object – which appeared to be a gray cube looming on the lunar horizon – in early December. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) dubbed it 'mysterious hut', playfully speculating that the cube might be an alien house or spacecraft.
News reports called it the 'Moon cube'.
The CNSA estimated the object was about 80 meters (262 feet) away, according to the blog 'Our Space', which is affiliated with the agency, and prepared to drive the rover toward it. The blog said it would take two or three months to reach the cube.
After several weeks of preparations and driving, the rover is close enough to see that the 'mysterious hut' is just a rock. Its sharp-lined geometric appearance on the horizon was a simple trick of perspective, light, and shadow.
In an updated posted on Friday, Our Space published the rover's latest photo of its target, below.
Yutu-2 image of the closer rock. (CNSA/CLEP/Our Space)
One of the rover's ground controllers noted in the blog that the rock is shaped like a rabbit, with smaller rocks in front of it that resemble a carrot. The rover's name, Yutu, means "Jade Rabbit" – which is now the name of the rock, too.
Yutu-2 reached the Moon in January 2019, when the Chang'e-4 lander touched down on the lunar surface and rolled out a ramp for the rover to descend. It was the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon.
In the three years since, Yutu-2 has driven over 1,000 meters (3,200 feet), used ground-penetrating radar to reveal a surprisingly deep layer of lunar soil, and identified rocks from the lunar mantle, below the crust, which were pushed to the surface when an asteroid crashed into the Moon billions of years ago.
A closer look at the rock. (CNSA/CLEP/Our Space)
The rover has survived long past its initial three-month mission, meaning Yutu-2 had plenty free time for a wild cube chase.
This article was originally published by Business Insider.
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As a space exploration enthusiast with a deep knowledge of lunar missions and rover activities, I can confidently address the recent revelation regarding China's "Moon cube." My expertise in space exploration, particularly lunar missions, allows me to provide insight into the details mentioned in the article dated January 10, 2022, by Morgan McFall-Johnsen on Business Insider.
The article discusses the discovery made by China's Yutu-2 rover on the lunar surface, where it encountered a mysterious object initially perceived as a "Moon cube." The China National Space Administration (CNSA) named it the 'mysterious hut,' adding a playful speculation that it might be an alien house or spacecraft. The CNSA estimated the object to be approximately 80 meters away, and preparations were made to drive the rover towards it.
The rover, Yutu-2, which means "Jade Rabbit," successfully landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019 as part of the Chang'e-4 mission. Over the three years since its arrival, Yutu-2 has demonstrated remarkable capabilities, covering a distance of over 1,000 meters and employing ground-penetrating radar to reveal deep layers of lunar soil.
One of the notable achievements mentioned in the article is the identification of rocks from the lunar mantle, located below the crust. These rocks were brought to the surface during an ancient asteroid impact on the Moon billions of years ago.
Now, addressing the recent incident with the "Moon cube" or 'mysterious hut,' the article provides updates on the rover's progress. After weeks of preparations and driving, the rover has approached the object, revealing that the initial perception of a sharp-lined geometric appearance was a result of perspective, light, and shadow. The 'mysterious hut' is, in fact, just a rock.
The article includes an updated photo of the rock, showing a closer view. One of the rover's ground controllers, mentioned in the blog 'Our Space' affiliated with the CNSA, notes that the rock has a shape resembling a rabbit, with smaller rocks in front resembling a carrot. The rock is now humorously named "Jade Rabbit" after the rover itself.
This incident showcases the complexity of interpreting lunar features from a distance and highlights the precision and capabilities of the Yutu-2 rover in investigating and unraveling the mysteries of the Moon's surface. As an enthusiast well-versed in space exploration, I find such discoveries and the ongoing missions of lunar rovers to be crucial for expanding our understanding of the Moon's geological history and composition.
