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| India's Chandrayaan-3 mission uncovers magma ocean on moon's south pole |
Scientists have discovered that an ocean of magma previously covered the moon's surface.
Magma was discovered on the lunar surface by the historic Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission, which touched down on the moon's South Pole in August 2023, according to the BBC.
The south pole was once covered with magma, according to a study that was published in the journal Nature.
The scientists' results supported the notion of the Lunar Magma Ocean, which postulates that magma formed the lunar surface approximately 4.5 million years ago.
"The theory of early evolution of the Moon becomes much more robust in the light of our observations," co-author Dr. Santosh Vadawale of the Physical Research Laboratory remarked in response to the findings.
It was thought by scientists that a lighter, molten crystalline rock known as ferroan anorthosite emerged to the surface of the moon when it started to cool down 4.5 million years ago after it formed.
Additionally, after setting foot on the moon, Indian astronomers sent out a robot known as Pragyaan to gather samples from the lunar surface.
During ten days, Pragyaan circled the moon and recorded twenty-three measurements.
It should be noted that Chandrayaan-3 was the first mission to set foot on the moon's uncharted south pole.Scientists have discovered that an ocean of magma previously covered the moon's surface.
Magma was discovered on the lunar surface by the historic Indian Chandrayaan-3 mission, which touched down on the moon's South Pole in August 2023, according to the BBC.
The south pole was once covered with magma, according to a study that was published in the journal Nature.
The scientists' results supported the notion of the Lunar Magma Ocean, which postulates that magma formed the lunar surface approximately 4.5 million years ago.
"The theory of early evolution of the Moon becomes much more robust in the light of our observations," co-author Dr. Santosh Vadawale of the Physical Research Laboratory remarked in response to the findings.
It was thought by scientists that a lighter, molten crystalline rock known as ferroan anorthosite emerged to the surface of the moon when it started to cool down 4.5 million years ago after it formed.
Additionally, after setting foot on the moon, Indian astronomers sent out a robot known as Pragyaan to gather samples from the lunar surface.
During ten days, Pragyaan circled the moon and recorded twenty-three measurements.
It should be noted that Chandrayaan-3 was the first mission to set foot on the moon's uncharted south pole.
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