Story highlights China makes public high-resolution photos taken by its lunar lander and rover

They show the moon's crust in vivid detail

It's a show of openness for the country's usually secretive space program

Beijing (CNN) China has released hundreds of high-resolution photos taken by its Chang'e-3 lunar lander and rover, showing the moon's surface in vivid detail.

The China National Space Administration made the images, video clips and scientific data available on its website in a rare show of openness for the country's usually secretive space program.

China sent its first unmanned lunar probe, the Yutu, or "Jade Rabbit," to the moon in 2013 as part of its Chang'e-3 mission, becoming only the third nation after the United States and Russia to land on the moon's surface.

Despite a shaky start to its mission, the Jade Rabbit is still working and sending images and data back to earth.

Read More