Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) scientists have made a thrilling discovery on Mars. They have detected three new craters in the Tharsis volcanic region of the planet. These craters have been approved for naming by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.
One of the newly discovered craters has been named “Lal crater” after Prof. Devendra Lal, an esteemed Indian geophysicist and former director of PRL. This crater is 65 kilometers wide and located at specific coordinates on Mars. Another crater has been named “Mursan crater” after a town in Uttar Pradesh, India, while the third crater is known as “Hilsa crater” after a town in Bihar, India.
The scientific significance of the Lal crater lies in its lava-covered surface, which indicates volcanic activity. However, researchers have also found evidence of a 45-meter thick sedimentary deposit in the sub-surface of the crater. This discovery suggests that water has played a role in depositing sediment into the crater, indicating that Mars was once a wetter planet with flowing water on its surface.
The Mursan and Hilsa craters, situated opposite each other to the Lal crater, provide insights into the timeline of infilling process of the larger crater. This suggests that infilling of Lal’s crater has occurred episodically over time. The research conducted by these scientists sheds light on Mars’ geological history and provides evidence that water played an essential role in shaping it.
In conclusion, this exciting discovery by PRL scientists opens up new possibilities for understanding Mars’ past and future geological processes. The findings suggest that there was once abundant water on Mars’ surface and that it played an important role in shaping its geology today.
