Why in the News
A study by ISRO Space Applications Centre has identified a safe landing patch near Mons Mouton for Chandrayaan-4, India’s first lunar sample return mission.
About Moon’s Mons Mouton
- Mons Mouton is a large flat topped lunar mountain massif
- Officially named by the International Astronomical Union
Location
- Situated in the south polar region of the Moon
- Lies close to the rim of the South Pole Aitken Basin
- Approximately 160 km from the lunar south pole
Origin
- Formed due to rim uplift during ancient massive asteroid impacts
- Represents exposed deep lunar crust, rare and scientifically valuable
Key Physical Features
- Width of nearly 100 km
- Elevation of about 6,000 metres above surrounding terrain
- Rugged topography with craters and boulder fields
- Unique illumination conditions
- Some regions receive near continuous sunlight
- Others remain in permanent shadow
- Can be observed during favourable libration even with amateur telescopes
| [2009] India has recently landed its Moon Impact Probe on the Moon. Among the following countries, which one landed such probe on the Moon earlier?
(a) Australia (b) Canada (c) China (d) Japan |
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