--- title: "Here’s a 360 Degree Lunar Panorama Taken by China’s Moon Lander" description: "China's moon lander just sent back more pictures from the far side of the Moon, including a 360 degree panorama and a video taken during its landing." date: "2019-01-11" modified: "2019-01-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/360-degree-lunar-panorama-chinas-moon-lander" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "Space" tags: - "chang'e 4" - "china" - "far side" - "moon" --- # Here’s a 360 Degree Lunar Panorama Taken by China’s Moon Lander ![China's moon lander just sent back more pictures, including a 360 degree panorama, and a video taken during its landing.]() *\Image: CLEP\* ## Moon Panorama Chinese moon lander Chang'e-4 and its companion rover Yutu 2 just took photos of each other while basking in sunlight on the far side of the Moon, which faces away from the Earth. ![]() After touching down just [over a week ago](), the lander has now sent back several new pictures, including a stunning 360 degree panorama of its surroundings. The Yutu 2 rover, and the tracks it left as it made its way across the lunar surface, can be seen in the bottom left. ![]() The lander also [sent back a video]() stitched together from more than 4,700 static images taken by the on-board camera. The video shows Chang'e-4 adjusting its trajectory right before landing on the lunar surface below. All that information had to go through a specially deployed relay satellite, since the Moon itself blocks direct signals to Earth from its far side. ## Exploring the Far Side The Chang'e-4 launched on December 7 to explore the far side of the Moon and investigate how its mineral composition and structure compare to the much better-known near side. It’s also carrying a tiny biosphere containing a number of Earth-based species including potato plants and fruit flies. China's Lunar and Deep Space Exploration organization claims the mission "was a complete success" according to an [update on its website]() published today, as interpreted by Google Translate. Now, the engineers working on the project are handing the reigns to the scientific exploration team, according to the update. And we can't wait to find out what they'll be able to learn from studying the far side of the Moon in the upcoming months. **READ MORE:** [China Moon probes take snaps of each other]() \[*BBC*\] ***More on Chang'e-4: [See China’s Lunar Rover Set Off Across the Far Side of the Moon]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()