China releases world's 'most detailed' map of Moon

China has released a new comprehensive geologic map of the moon, the “most detailed” to date, which is expected to make a vital contribution to scientific research, exploration and landing site selection on the Earth’s only natural satellite.

Chinese scientists from multiple research institutes and universities have created the high-resolution topographic map based on data from China’s lunar exploration Chang’e project and other data and research findings from international organizations, the state-run China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Wednesday.

The new comprehensive geologic map of the moon is to a scale of 1:2,500,000, the “most detailed to date”, the report said.

The map includes 12,341 impact craters, 81 impact basins, 17 rock types and 14 types of structures, providing abundant information about geology of the moon and its evolution. It is expected to make a great contribution to scientific research, exploration and landing site selection on the moon.

The Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has led the project, along with other organizations such as Chinese Academy of Geological Science, China University of Geosciences, and Shandong University.

The map was published by Science Bulletin on May 30.

Previously, the USGS Astrogeology Science Centre had released a moon map to a scale of 1:5,000,000 in 2020, the report said.