A rare opportunity to see soil from the moon in person captivated crowds as the lunar sample from China’s Chang’e-5 mission was under the spotlight in Bangkok.

The lunar sample was featured as one of the highlights at the Sci Power for Future Thailand Fair, which concluded on Sunday.

This is due to the collaboration between the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Enclosed in a rotating crystal sphere, the 75-milligram sample named ‘The Moon Shines Bright on Me’ invited visitors on a microscopic journey to the moon’s surface, and they marvelled at the extraterrestrial material up close.

The exhibit is a portion of samples that the Chang’e-5 lunar probe collected, one of the most complicated and challenging missions in China’s aerospace history.

Being able to get closer than ever to the moon inspired people from diverse backgrounds who visited the display, particularly children. They fuelled their passions for learning and pursuing their goals, said Suppawat Zhou, a staff member at the exhibition.

“It is truly rewarding to see visually impaired and deaf students learning about the exhibits through the interpretation from their teachers, which sparked their keen interest in astronomy, space and technology,’’ he added.

NARIT head Saran Poshyachinda said the exhibition also showcased advanced technologies Thailand had developed for astronomical research, such as an instrument designed to observe cosmic radiation and space weather.

In April, China and Thailand signed two memorandums of understanding to cooperate on exploration and peaceful use of outer space and an international lunar research station.

(Xinhua/NAN)