High-resolution photographs capturing the far side of the moon have revealed more recent volcanic activity than previously thought, geologists in Japan have found.

Details of volcanic activity on the moon, or anywhere at all, help researchers understand the origin and evolution of the place. The moon's far side has long intrigued some people as it is that part of the lunar hemisphere permanently turned away from the earth.
Moon
© UnknownThe Moon.

In an article published in Science, the Japanese experts said their Terrain camera mounted on the Japanese SELENE satellite managed to take detailed shots of the moon's far side.

The photographs showed craters on the dark, volcanic plains on the surface, which the researchers said could be counted to determine the age of the plains.

"We found younger volcanic activity on the far side of the moon, as recent as 2.5 billion years ago," research team member Makiko Ohtake of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

It was previously thought volcanic activity stopped three billion years ago on the far side.

Volcanic activity on the near side is considerably more recent, and past studies found evidence of eruptions as recent as 1.5 billion to 2 billion years ago.

Ohtake said volcanic activity helps explain the many craters that pockmark the lunar surface.

"Volcanic activity is strongly correlated to heat source and crustal evolution of the moon. The rubble created by volcanic activity is also part of the crust," she said.