The 'Gel' in the Crater
A rover on the far side of the Moon found something in a crater that its team described as gel-like and unusually coloured.
What was reported
In July 2019, the team driving China's Yutu-2 rover across the floor of Von Kármán crater spotted something unusual in a small, fresh crater: a dark, glossy patch that looked different in colour and texture from the dust around it. A Chinese report described it as 'gel-like', and the phrase went around the world.
The rover's schedule was changed so it could go back and study it with its instruments.
Explanations offered
Analysis showed it was impact melt breccia: rock and dust fused into dark glass by the heat of a meteorite strike, which can look shiny and smooth. It's common on the Moon, though rarely seen this close up.
- When
- July 2019
- Where
- Von Kármán crater, far side of the Moon
- Witnesses
- China's Yutu-2 rover
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.