Description

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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS

Context:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists have estimated the age of the Shiv Shakti point to be 3.7 billion years old.

About the Shiv Shakti point

The Shiv Shakti point is the name given to the Chandrayaan-3 landing site on the Moon's south pole, where India successfully achieved a soft landing on August 23, 2023.

The region around the landing site was mainly formed by the ejecta (material ejected during impacts) from the Manzinus and Boguslawsky craters. The Schomberger crater, with its well-preserved structures, also contributed to the terrain.

A study by scientists from ISRO’s Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) estimates the age of the region around the Shiv Shakti point to be about 3.7 billion years, which coincides with the period when primitive microbial life first emerged on Earth.

How did ISRO scientists determine the age of the region?

Scientists used high-end imaging techniques, such as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter wide-angle camera and terrain camera, to analyze craters and rock distributions. They studied 25 craters (500-1,150 meters in diameter) in the low-relief smooth plains, where the landing site is located, to estimate the age.

The study identified three distinct terrain types:

High-relief rugged terrain
High-relief smooth plains
Low-relief smooth plains

The low-relief smooth plains, which host the landing site, were found to be around 3.7 billion years old.

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Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the Shiv Shakti Point:

The Shiv Shakti Point is the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's south pole.
The region is estimated to be 3.7 billion years old.
The terrain was formed by ejecta from the Manzinus and Boguslawsky craters.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) All three

D) None

Answer: C

Statement 1 is correct: Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander successfully touched down near the lunar south pole at Shiv Shakti Point on August 23, 2023.

Statement 2 is correct: Studies by ISRO's Physical Research Laboratory have determined that the area around the landing site is approximately 3.7 billion years old.

Statement 3 is correct: Morphological analyses suggest that the local terrain around the landing site was largely formed by ejecta from the nearby Manzinus and Boguslawsky craters.