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Chandrayaan-3 update: India’s lunar mission is in the news again, this time for its latest discovery on the Moon. According to the latest findings published in the journal Science Direct, a 160 kilometer-wide lunar crater has been discovered near the landing site of Chandrayaan-3. Scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad claimed that these findings were observed by the Pragyan rover.
The rover of India’s third lunar mission continues its exploration of the south pole region of the lunar surface, reports India Today. The new crater site was discovered using data collected by the Pragyan rover as it passed through a high terrain about 350 km from the Aitken Basin in the south pole region. This basin is the largest and oldest impact basin on the surface of the moon.
Dust and rocks from the new layer play an important role in developing our understanding of the early geological evolution of the celestial body. According to scientists, the new crater was formed before the formation of the Aitken Basin, making it one of the oldest geological structures on the surface of the Moon.
“We found a quasi-circular, highly damaged structure around the landing site, believed to be a buried impact crater about 160 km in diameter, which probably formed before the SPA basin,” the journal, dated September 20, says.
It is important to note that the site is rich in material collected from previous impacts and is, perhaps, an area of interest for lunar exploration missions. The report mentions that the crater is buried under debris generated by subsequent impacts and has deteriorated over time.
It said, “Chandrayaan-3 landed in a pristine region that contains some of the most abundant excavated material on the Moon.
High-resolution images taken by the rover’s optical cameras have revealed important details about the structure of this ancient crater. According to scientists, this is a rare scientific opportunity to study one of the earliest geological structures, which could potentially provide important information about the geological history and present of the Moon.
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