lunar surface
The moon was once covered with an ocean of magma. Data from the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 mission has strengthened this theory. This analysis is said in an analysis published in the ‘Nature’ research magazine. This analysis relates to the measurements of soil on the moon, recorded at several points by the Pragyan rover while covering a distance of 100 meters on the surface. The rover was deployed by the Vikram lander. The lander made a ‘soft landing’ near the south pole of the moon on August 23, 2023. Chandrayaan-3, consisting of lander and rover, was launched by ISRO, Bengaluru. The authors of the study said that previous missions such as NASA’s Apollo and the Soviet Union’s Luna have relied mainly on soil samples taken from the equatorial and mid-latitude regions of the moon, respectively.
The open secret of the formation of the surface of the moon
The study also involved authors from the Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory. Analyzing data from Pragyan obtained from the south pole of the Moon, the researchers found that the lunar soil is made up of a single type of rock called ferroan anorthosite (FAN).
The study authors said their results are similar to those from analyses of samples taken from equatorial and mid-latitude regions. In addition, the similar composition of samples taken from geographically distant locations supports the lunar magma ocean hypothesis, a widely accepted scenario for the early evolution of the Moon, they said. This hypothesis provides a possible explanation for how the upper, middle and inner parts of the Moon’s surface formed.
How was the moon formed?
According to the hypothesis, the Moon was formed as a result of a collision between two protoplanets (the stage before planet formation). While the larger planet became Earth, the smaller planet became the Moon. According to the theory, this resulted in the Moon becoming very hot, causing its entire mantle to melt and turn into a ‘magma ocean’. The study says that while the Moon was forming, it cooled down, low-density mantles floated to the surface, while heavier minerals sank down and formed the ‘mantle’, which lies beneath the ‘crust’ (the upper part of the surface). The analysis also revealed that Pragyan detected magnesium in the lunar soil.
Read this also-
Why is the place where Chandrayaan landed named Shiv Shakti? PM Modi revealed
Explainer: America also acknowledged the strength of Chandrayaan 3 team, gave it top award; Know what it means for India?
Latest India News