CRATERS IN MARS - SCI
& TECH
News: Three craters on Mars named
for physicist Devendra Lal, towns in UP, Bihar
What's in the news?
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Three recently discovered craters on the surface of
Mars have been named for renowned cosmic ray late Physicist Devendra Lal and the towns of Mursan and Hilsa in
northern India.
Key takeaways:
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The three craters are situated in the Tharsis
volcanic region of the Red Planet, said the Ahmedabad-based PRL, a unit of the
Department of Space of the Government of India.
Names of Newly
Discovered Craters on Mars:
1. Lal Crater:
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Named After - Prof. Devendra Lal, a distinguished Indian
geophysicist and former director of PRL (1972-1983).
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Location and Size - A 65 km wide crater centered at -20.98° and
209.34°.
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Scientific Importance - The area of Lal crater,
situated in the Tharsis volcanic region, is entirely covered with lava.
2. Mursan Crater:
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Named After - Mursan, a town in Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Location and Size - A ~10 km wide crater located on the eastern rim
of the Lal crater.
3. Hilsa Crater:
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Named After - Hilsa, a town in Bihar, India.
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Location and Size - A ~10 km wide crater situated on the western rim
of the Lal crater.
Go back to basics:
Crater:
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A crater is a landform that features a hole or
depression on a planetary surface.
Causes:
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Typically formed by an object striking the surface
or by geological activities such as meteorite, volcanic activity, or an
explosion.
Types of Craters:
1. Impact Crater:
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A depression formed by the high-speed impact of a
smaller body on a planet, moon, or other solid object.
2. Volcanic Crater:
● A bowl-shaped depression caused by volcanic activity, usually located above a volcano’s vent.