Remains of magma ocean found at South Pole of Moon

India's Chandrayaan-3found remnants of a Magma ocean at the south pole of the Moon. According to scientists, in the past the moon's south pole was covered in an ocean of liquid molten rock or magma. The surface of the moon was formed from this magma about four and a half billion years ago.
Chandrayaan-3, ISRO
India's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the South Pole of the Moon in August last year. Since the information about the South Pole of the Moon is unknown, the Chandrayaan has been conducting research activities in the mysterious area of ​​the Moon since landing.

According to scientists, the moon was formed about four and a half billion years ago. Then as the surface begins to cool, a light mineral called ferroan anorthosite floats to the surface. This ferroan anorthosite is essentially molten rock, from which the entire surface of the Moon is later formed. Analysis of data from Chandrayaan-3 found evidence of ferroan anorthosite at the Moon's south pole. These data were published in a research paper on the formation of the moon in the scientific journal Nature.

Scientist Santosh Bhadawale said, the whole campaign is quite exciting. Sitting in the control room and spinning the rover around the moon is a great experience.

The theory of early evolution of the Moon is quite strong. Evidence of a magma ocean in the mid-latitudes of the Moon was obtained by the US Apollo program before the Indian mission. Chandrayaan-3 rover 'Pragyan' explored the South Pole region for 10 days in August last year.

It is known that the Pragyan rover collects data with the help of a device called alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. It is through this rover that scientists have found evidence of a huge meteorite attack on the moon about four billion years ago. That impact is thought to have formed the Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin. It is one of the largest craters in the solar system.

Source: BBC