Kuutionäytteitä

Kuutionäytteitä, often translated as "lunar samples" or "moon rocks," are geological materials collected from the surface of the Moon. These samples have been obtained through robotic missions and crewed expeditions, most notably by the United States' Apollo program and the Soviet Union's Luna program. The Soviet Union also obtained samples through robotic missions. China's Chang'e missions have also successfully returned lunar samples.

The scientific study of kuutionäytteitä has provided invaluable insights into the Moon's origin, composition, and geological history. Analysis of these samples has confirmed that the Moon likely formed from debris ejected after a giant impact between the early Earth and a Mars-sized protoplanet. The samples reveal a diverse range of igneous rocks, including basalts, anorthosites, and breccias, reflecting different volcanic and impact events on the lunar surface over billions of years. Their chemical and isotopic composition helps scientists understand the early solar system and the processes that shaped terrestrial planets.

Kuutionäytteitä are housed and studied in specialized laboratories around the world. Their rarity and scientific significance make them some of the most precious geological materials on Earth. Researchers continue to analyze these samples using advanced techniques to further refine our understanding of lunar and planetary evolution.