Science Public Lecture - Sample the Space: Secrets Behind Lunar Soil
- Date & Time
- October 12, 2023 (Thursday) | 5:30 - 6:30pm (HKT)
- Venue
- CYPP3, LG1/F, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building, HKU Main Campus ( Map )
- Language
- English
- Speaker
- Dr Yuqi QIAN, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Earth Sciences at HKU; Member of Laboratory for Space Research at HKU
The Moon is the closest neighbour of our Earth, causing tides and illuminating the night sky. For billions of years after its birth, it was a lonely planet without visitors until the start of the Space Age.
The first satellite visited the Moon in 1959 when Luna 1 was launched, the first spacecraft landed on the Moon in 1966 during the Luna 9 mission, and the first human landed on the Moon in 1969 when Neil Armstrong made history.
In modern times, the world is experiencing another era of intense lunar exploration, and China has emerged as a global leader in the current expedition. In 2020, the Chinese lunar probe Chang’e-5 made a historic landing on the Moon and collected 1731 g of lunar soil back to the Earth. Exploring these samples can reveal the Earth’s history, the Moon’s formation and evolution, and the cosmic tapestry of our Solar System.
In an ambitious endeavour to unravel the Moon’s secrets, our research team led by Dr Yuqi Qian embarked on a thrilling mission to retrieve lunar soil samples, unearthing a wealth of knowledge concealed within. Join us as we reveal the remarkable story of our expedition, including the challenges, triumphs, and invaluable insights from these celestial treasures. We are now in a new Space Age. We are diving back into lunar exploration with a renewed focus this decade, with the aim of making the Moon our new home in the near future!
Speaker Dr Yuqi QIAN, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Earth Sciences at HKU; Member of Laboratory for Space Research at HKU
Dr Yuqi Qian is a rising postdoctoral fellow from the Department of Earth Sciences at HKU and a member of the Laboratory for Space Research. He holds a doctoral degree in Planetary Geology from the China University of Geosciences and has dedicated his studies to unravel secrets of space behind planetary remote sensing data and materials. Dr Qian's research on the Chang'e-5 landing site has gained international recognition, showcasing his expertise in the field of planetary geology. He played a pivotal role in the historic retrieval of lunar soil samples and brought them to Hong Kong for the first time, marking a significant milestone for Hong Kong's research community. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a passion for space exploration, Dr Qian's research holds promising implications for advancing our knowledge of the Moon and other celestial bodies.