Chandrayaan-3, India’s latest mission to the Moon, found evidence that the Moon’s surface was once covered by a huge ocean of magma, which is melted rock. Scientists used data from the Pragyan rover, which moved on the Moon’s surface and studied its soil over a distance of 100 meters. The data helps us understand how the Moon formed billions of years ago.
2. How did the Moon form, according to the data?
The scientists suggest that the Moon was formed when two giant space objects collided. The larger object became the Earth, while the smaller one became the Moon. This collision caused the Moon to get very hot, and the heat melted its surface, forming a magma ocean. Over time, as the Moon cooled down, the lighter rocks floated to the surface, creating the Moon’s crust.
3. What type of rock did the rover find?
The Pragyan rover found a type of rock on the Moon called ferroan anorthosite (FAN), which makes up most of the Moon’s crust. The discovery is important because it matches rocks that were found in other parts of the Moon by previous missions, like NASA’s Apollo. This helps confirm the theory that the Moon was once covered by magma.
4. Did the rover find anything new?
Yes, the rover detected magnesium in the Moon’s soil, which puzzled scientists because it did not fit perfectly with the magma ocean theory. This means there might still be more to learn about how the Moon formed.
These discoveries help us understand the Moon’s history and how it became what we see today.
Share:
Get a call back
Fill the below form to get free counselling for UPSC Civil Services exam preparation
