The Presence of Certain Minerals May Explain Why the Lunar Farside and Nearside are so Different

Why does the Moon have two different faces?. That question frames the lunar dichotomy: The nearside that faces us is different than the lunar farside. Scientists have worked hard to understand why that is, and new research says that the presence of certain minerals could explain why.

Jun 27, 2025 - 22:32
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The Presence of Certain Minerals May Explain Why the Lunar Farside and Nearside are so Different

The lunar nearside (l) and farside (r) are much different. The nearside is characterized by dark volcanic plains, while the farside is more heavily cratered. Scientists are still trying to understand this dichotomy. Image Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

Why does the Moon have two different faces?. That question frames the lunar dichotomy: The nearside that faces us is different than the lunar farside. Scientists have worked hard to understand why that is, and new research says that the presence of certain minerals could explain why.