Chinese researchers have presented a new map of the moon, updating a previous edition based on new scientific findings and recalibrating the moon’s ancient geologic eras.
The comprehensive map of the moon, with a scale of 1:5 million, was unveiled by the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (IGCAGS) on Aug. 6. The map is an update of a 2024 edition and puts forward new boundaries for the ancient Aitkenian, Nectarian and Imbrian lunar periods. (The researchers use the term Aitkenian, whereas the term pre-Nectarian is often used to describe the lunar geologic period from roughly around 4.5 billion to 3.9 billion years ago.)
The map also uses reprocessed spectral data to update areas of KREEP terrane, which features crustal material enriched in potassium (K), rare-earth elements (REE), and phosphorus (P), and is found to be more continuous and abundant than previously estimated.
“The lunar geologic history has indeed been rewritten — more precisely, refined and systematized,” the state-run outlet Xinhua quoted Yang Zhiming, director of the IGCAGS, as saying.
Both the United States, through the Apollo missions, and the Soviet Union delivered lunar samples to Earth more than 50 years ago, greatly shaping research on and understanding of the moon. China’s own robotic sample return missions, Chang’e 5 and Chang’e 6, launched in 2020 and 2024, respectively, have provided fresh materials and new insights.
Chang’e 6 was the first sample-return mission to the lunar far side. Chinese researchers say the returned material will provide a new starting point for scientific discussions on the nature of that hemisphere of the moon, which is hidden from view on Earth.
The map “introduces a proprietary cartographic standard,” according to Xinhua, amid a wider, Chinese government-driven initiative to influence global standards. In terms of space, aspects of the map such as the color scheme, geologic logic and an aesthetic “lighter for younger, darker for older” principle will be applied more broadly as China looks to expand its exploration beyond the moon and into the outer solar system.
“This goes beyond showcasing technological soft power. This standard will be extended to future planetary geologic mapping, establishing an independent intellectual property framework for China’s deep space exploration,” Yang said.
Both China and the United States have interests in setting standards as humanity renews its interest in exploring the moon. While on Earth everyone agrees on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the two countries currently disagree about what time it is on the moon, where clocks run faster due to weaker gravity. This suggests that leadership in space will be contested not just through missions and firsts, but via whose technical standards are followed, with China’s new map playing into these efforts.
