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The discovery was made by a team of scientists that also included researchers working at the Physical Research Laboratory 2021. however, the naming was approved by the International Committee earlier this month.
Image Source: Times of India
Where the three Craters are located?
The three craters are situated in the Tharsis volcanic region on Mars, approximately at coordinates 21.0°S, 209°W. Now, they are officially called Lal Crater, Mursan Crater, and Hilsa Crater.
About Lal Crater and why is it named so?
A 65-kilometer-wide crater, located at coordinates -20.98°, 209.34°, has been designated “Lal Crater” to honor the distinguished Indian geophysicist and former Director of the “Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)”, Professor Devendra Lal, whose tenure lasted from 1972 to 1983.
Professor Devendra Lal was a prominent cosmic ray physicist and Earth and planetary scientist, celebrated for the breadth and ingenuity of his research endeavors. His work encompassed studies on the composition and energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays, as well as investigations into nuclear tracks and radioactivity in lunar samples and meteorites.
About Mursan and Hilsa Crater
A smaller crater, measuring 10 kilometers in width and situated on the eastern edge of Lal Crater, has been named “Mursan Crater” after a town in Uttar Pradesh.
Whereas another 10 km wide crater laid over the western edge of the Lal crater has been designated as the Hilsa Crater. This name is taken from a town in Bihar.
Image Source: The Print
Why the name Mursan and Hilsa is selected?
Mursan was selected because it is the birth location of the present PRL Director that is Dr. Anil Bhardwaj, a well-known Planetary Scientist. On the other hand, Hilsa is the birth location of Dr. Rajneev Bharti, a renowned PRL scientist who was a part of the team that introduced these new craters on Mars.
Scientific Importance of these Craters
The discovery of these three craters holds scientific importance because the whole area of the Lal crater is coated with Lava. Nevertheless, the 45-meter-thick sedimentary deposit has been found under the floor of craters.
This indicates that once there was a water flow on its Martian surface. Water transportation deposited large amounts of sediments, also known as the Lal Crater.
This also demonstrates that once Mars was wet and there was a presence of water on its surface as per the views of Dr. Anil Bhardwaj, Director of PRL. This marks a crucial advance in understanding the planet’s geological history and its potential to support life.
Image Source: NDTV
The finding of the PRL team is documented in the Astrophysical Journal, and the “International Astronomical Union’s (IAU)” working group has officially identified these craters as per the Planetary system Nomenclature on June 5, 2024.
How the Craters are Discovered on Mars?
Out of the three Craters, the Lal Crater is 65 km wide and is the largest compared to the other two. The craters were discovered within the Mangala Crater of Mars using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Probe. This investigation is a part of the Mars exploration program of NASA which was conducted to search for the presence of Water on Mars.
The discovery of the craters and the subsequent findings about Mars’ geological history are presented as significant scientific achievements. The mention of the sedimentary deposits indicating past water flow on Mars adds a sense of excitement and importance to the discovery.
