Chandrayaan-3 Landed Within A Buried, One Of The Oldest Craters On Moon, Says ISRO

Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 landed within a buried impact crater, which is around 160 km in size and approximately 4.4 km deep, and likely to be older than South Pole Atkin (SPA) basin, according to Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ). This is revealed based on analysis of images obtained by navigation cameras on Chandrayaan-3 Pragyan rover and Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter’s optical high resolution camera, according to scientists from Physical Research Laboratory and ISRO, who published ir study in peer-reviewed journal 'Icarus'. 

Chandrayaan-3 mission with Vikram lander and Pragyan rover landed in high latitude highland region near south pole of Moon, an ISRO statement noted. landing site is located approximately 350 km from SPA basin rim, an ancient and largest impact basin in Solar System.

This landing site has undergone complex emplacement sequence of SPA basin ejecta followed by nearby and distant impact basins and complex crater ejecta materials, it said.

Pragyan rover's navigation camera and Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter's optical high resolution camera images gave first clue about linear, distal ejecta rays or groove-like structures possibly formed due to distant impacts deposited at Chandrayaan-3 landing site, statement said.

regional exploration around Chandrayaan-3 landing site revealed a near semi-circular like structure, highly degred in nature, it was stated. Furr detailed geomorphological and topographical analysis revealed that semi-circular structure is a heavily degred crater structure or a buried impact crater with a diameter of approximately 160 km.

"This semi-circular structure was highly degred due to mantling of thick ejecta deposits from SPA basin and followed by many or complex craters throughout geological history of Moon," statement said.

"This buried crater is one of oldest craters on Moon, and Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander and Pragyan rover landed and roved within this buried crater, which is hosting SPA basin ejecta material and some of most deeply excavated materials on Moon," ISRO ded.