Chinese scientists are creating a new 1:25 million scale geological map of the moon, according to media reports on Thursday.

Ouyang Ziyuan, the chief scientist of China's lunar exploration project, said that five universities and research institutes have collaborated to draw a map of moon's geological structure. The map is slated to be finished next year and will be published by 2020.

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The map, which will be 4.36 meters long and 2.2 meters wide, will provide vital information of the moon's geology, structure, and types of rocks found. It will also show the chronology of the moon's evolution, the Indian Express noted.

Chen Shengbo, a geologist at Jilin University, is in charge of creating a sketch of the lunar structure. He said that the map intends to show the geographical features of the moon including the size, nature, and craters' formation. He, however, noted that the mapping will highly depend on the data and images forwarded by both local and foreign circumlunar satellites, according to Shanghai Daily.

Meanwhile, aside from its vision of drawing a map for the moon, China also plans to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon next year through the Chang'e-4 lunar probe.

The probe is expected to conduct in situ and mobile detection as well as pass communications at earth-moon L2 point. If such goal is realized, it could mean that China has already mastered key technologies to land on a specific lunar surface.

Furthermore, China is also reportedly aiming to send an astronaut on the moon.

Tagsmap of the moon, lunar geography map, moon mapping