Chandrayaan-3 Measures Electron Densities Far Higher Than Expected at South Pole
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander has discovered a "much more active" electrical environment at the Moon's south pole, which is significantly more dynamic than previously estimated. According to ISRO, this result was obtained by the Radio Anatomy of the Moon-bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere - Langmuir Probe (RAMBHA-LP) instrument on board Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander.
Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander has found a “far more active” electrical environment in the south pole of the Moon, which is “significantly more dynamic” than thought before. According to ISRO, this finding has been made by the Radio Anatomy of the Moon-bound Hypersensitive Ionosphere and Atmosphere – Langmuir Probe experiment on board Chandrayaan-3 Vikram Lander.
These are the first direct measurements of lunar plasma that have been made this close to the surface in the southern high latitudes of the Moon. Electron density in excess of expectations: Electron densities of 380 to 600 particles per cc were measured near the landing site, known as "Shiva Shakti Bindu."
ISRO explained that the constant bombardment of charged particles from the solar wind and the deposition of particles from the Moon's magnetotail create a constantly changing and dynamic electrical environment near the surface. It further stated that the detected electrons were highly energetic, with temperatures ranging between 3,000 and 8,000 Kelvin.
