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Context:

Examination of Chandrayaan-3 data suggests water-ice may be present in places outside the polar regions of the Moon.

Background

Before Chandrayaan-3, scientists understood that water-ice on the Moon was mainly located in the polar regions, particularly in permanently shadowed craters where sunlight doesn't reach. These areas are extremely cold, allowing water-ice to remain stable.

Recent updates

Chandrayaan-3's data suggests that water-ice might be present outside the Moon's polar regions as well.

Using temperature measurements from the Chandra's Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) instrument, scientists have found that certain high-latitude areas (60-80 degrees north or south of the lunar equator) with specific slope orientations could potentially host water-ice below the surface.

ChaSTE recorded temperature variations over very short distances depending on the terrain. For example, sunward-facing slopes recorded much higher temperatures (30 K or more) compared to flat locations or poleward-facing slopes.

The temperature variations suggest that areas with specific slope orientations could create environments similar to the polar regions, potentially allowing water-ice to exist.

Way Forward

Chandrayaan-3's results complement earlier missions such as Chandrayaan-1, which established the existence of water in the polar regions.

ChaSTE from Chandrayaan-3 gave the first in-situ temperature data in the high-latitudes of the Moon, providing new information on the thermal environment and its implication for water-ice stability.

The discovery broadens the area in which water-ice could exist on the Moon. Water-ice is important for scientific research and possible future human settlements, as it can be used for life support as well as fuel.

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Source: 

 INDIAN EXPRESS