The orbiter of India's Chandrayaan-2 mission has newly revealed that Argon-40 gas is spread in the outermost mantle (exosphere) of the Moon. From this revelation, new information about the surface of the Moon will be obtained and will help in the study. ISRO said on Tuesday that although the presence of this gas on the Moon had been found earlier, but in the latest discovery, it was found to be in those areas which scientists had not anticipated earlier.This discovery has been made by Chandra's Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (Chase-2) on the orbiter. It is a mass spectrometer instrument. This instrument is used to measure the density of elements, their basic chemical and structure of molecules, etc. The report about ISRO's new discovery was published in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters.It is noteworthy that under the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the lander and rover were to be landed on the lunar surface in 2019, but that part of the mission failed. The first part of the mission, its orbiter, was successfully placed in lunar orbit. The instruments in it will continue to make various discoveries on the Moon for at least 7 years. ISRO may also send Chandrayaan-3 mission later this year.
American Apollo 17 discovered 50 years ago- According to ISRO, the American mission Apollo 17, sent in 1972, was the first to confirm Organ-40 on the Moon.
- But at that time it was found only in the equatorial region of the Moon.
Meaning of new discovery- According to ISRO, getting Argon-40 gas in the exosphere will help in understanding the outer circle of the Moon. Also, the radioactive activities occurring within tens of meters from its surface can be estimated more accurately.
- ISRO said, Chase-2 has also found a rise in Argon-40 gas due to unknown reasons. The reason for this could be the earthquake of the Moon or something else, to understand it more studies will be needed.