Chandrayaan Data Provides First Geologic Mapping of the Moon’s South Pole Area

South Pole-Aitken Basin: Vikram landed near this huge, old impact crater, one of the largest in the Solar System.

Principal Discoveries from the Lunar South Pole of Chandrayaan-3 Investigating

Terrain alternating low, level plains and highlands.

Proof of Magma Ocean Below Surface Researchers find ancient lava ocean covers entire moon.

The lunar south polar region was probably formed about 3. 7 billion years ago, around the time the first microbial life-signatures appeared on Earth.

The geochemical similarities between the Moon and Earth also support the hypothesis that they had a common molten origin.

Perhaps because of a major collision that occurred some 4. 5 billion years ago between Earth and a body the size of Mars.

Lunar Craters' Importance

Without atmospheric erosion the craters on the Moon have remained relatively intact for billions of years.

They help date geological features on other planets and give information about the early history of the solar system.

As snapshots, lunar craters hold records of space-rock collisions that fashioned the solar system as a whole.