Chinese Probe Records Minus 310-Degree Temps on the Moon

The Polar Vortex is nothing compared to the cold temperatures on the Moon, according to data from a Chinese probe.

The Chang'e-4 probe recorded lunar night temperatures that reached minus 310 degrees, Xinhua reported. The soil is also much colder than that on the near side of the Moon.

"According to the measurements of Chang'e-4, the temperature of the shallow layer of the lunar soil on the far side of the moon is lower than the data obtained by the U.S. Apollo mission on the near side of the moon," said Zhang He, the Chang'e-4 probe project executive director.

Lunar days and nights are each equal to 14 Earth days in length. The Chinese probe, which landed on the far side of the Moon early last month, has been broadcasting images to Earth.

This marks the first time a spacecraft has visited the far side of the moon, which is not visible from Earth except for a small slice.

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