Lunar expert hopeful 'new era' opening

Crucial observations expected as China ventures to far side of moon

China's lunar exploration programs will continue to be crucial to the international astronomy community, as astronomical observations are relayed from the moon's surface, a leading figure in lunar research said.

Steve Durst, founding director of the International Lunar Observatory Association, a nonprofit organization in Hawaii, noted on Friday on the sidelines of the Galaxy Forum 2018 in Beijing that there is currently only one spacecraft operating on the moon - China's Chang'e 3 robotic probe - and its ultraviolet telescope is still functioning.