---
title: "China Releases New Pic of Weird Substance Its Moon Rover Found"
description: "The China Lunar Exploration Program has released a new photo of the mysterious \"gel-like\" and \"colored\" substance found by its Moon rover."
date: "2019-10-22"
modified: "2019-10-22"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-moon-rover-mysterious-substance"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "Science & Energy"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "far side"
  - "moon"
  - "the digest"
  - "yutu"
---

# China Releases New Pic of Weird Substance Its Moon Rover Found

![The China Lunar Exploration Program has released a new photo of the mysterious "gel-like" and "colored" substance found by its Moon rover.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/moon-rover-clues-mysterious-substance1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: CNSA\</em\>*

## Mysterious Gel

In August, Chinese lunar rover Yutu-2 [discovered](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-moon-rover-gel-substance>) something strange on the far side of the Moon: a mysterious substance that the [Chinese space agency referred to as](<http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6807108/content.html>) "gel-like" and "colored."

And now, China's Lunar Exploration Program has released a new photo of the substance — shedding more light on what the strange substance could possibly be.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/moon-rover-clues-mysterious-substance2.jpg>)
*Image Credit: CNSA/CLEP*

## Impact Glass

According to experts, it's most likely what scientists initially hypothesized: dark glass formed as a result of an impact — the same stuff American astronauts found during the Apollo 17 mission, [*Space.com* reports](<https://www.space.com/china-far-side-moon-strange-substance.html>). High velocity meteor impacts are able to pressurize minerals into shiny glass that can end up refracting light in surprising ways.

"I think the most reliable information here is that the material is relatively dark," Dan Moriarty, NASA Postdoctoral Program fellow at the Goddard Space Flight Center told *Space.com*. "It appears to have brighter material embedded within the larger, darker regions, although there is a chance that is light glinting off a smooth surface."

## Sleep Cycle

Previously, Yutu-2 [struggled to get a closer look](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-lunar-lander-pic-mysterious-substance>) since the strange object was at the bottom of a crater.

The lander is about to wake up from its two week long, lunar night cycle slumber. Perhaps then, we'll be getting more answers.

**READ MORE:** [Here's What China's Yutu 2 Rover Found on the Far Side of the Moon (Photos)](<https://www.space.com/china-far-side-moon-strange-substance.html>) \[*Space.com*\]

**More on the substance:** *[Here Are New Pics of That Weird Substance China Found on the Moon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-lunar-lander-pic-mysterious-substance>)*

## 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](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)