Chandrayaan 2 orbiter sends first illuminated images of moon |
India`s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2`s orbiter has started its work around the moon as a spectroscopic instrument onboard the orbiter has taken the first illuminated image of the lunar surface with an objective to map the mineral and lunar composition. The data will help in understanding the origin and evolution of the Moon. The orbiter`s Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS) has captured the first illuminated image that covers part of the lunar farside in the northern hemisphere. Few prominent craters like Sommerfield, Stebbins, and Kirkwood are seen in the image. Preliminary analysis of the data sent by the orbiter suggests that IIRS could successfully measure variations in the reflected solar radiation that bounces off the lunar surface from different kinds of surfaces like crater peaks, crater floors and sun-illuminated inner rims of craters. The variations in the spectral radiance are primarily due to the mineralogical variations that exist in the lunar surface. At a time the orbiter`s payloads are busy scanning the Moon, Nasa`s orbiter LRO, present in the lunar orbit, has sent the latest pictures of the south pole region under better lighting conditions as compared to the first set of images taken on September 17, where Isro`s Vikram lander had made hard landing and making all "rigorous" efforts to find the exact location of the lander.
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