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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘Krishnan Crater’ : 27 November

Daily News Analysis ‘Krishnan Crater’ : 27 November

Table of Content

Why in News?

  • A 3.5-billion-year-old Martian crater has been named “Krishnan” after Indian geologist M.S. Krishnan, along with several Kerala place names approved by the International Astronomical Union.

Background 

  • A crater on Mars has been officially named “Krishnan”.
  • It is named after M. S. Krishnan, a pioneering Indian geologist.
  • The name was approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the global authority for naming planetary features.
DO YOU KNOW? International Astronomical Union (IAU)
  • The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is a global organisation of astronomers.
  • It gives the official names to planets, moons, stars, and craters.
  • It was set up in 1919.
  • Its headquarters is in Paris, France.

Who Was M. S. Krishnan?

  • M. S. Krishnan was one of India’s early and leading geologists.
  • He made major contributions to:
    • Indian stratigraphy (rock layering)
    • Mineral exploration
    • Geological mapping of India
  • He also served as:
    • Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI)
  • He played a key role in building modern geological studies in India.

About the Krishnan Crater on Mars

  • It is an impact crater, formed by a meteorite hitting the Martian surface.
  • Martian craters help scientists study:
    • The age of the Martian surface
    • Past climatic and geological conditions
  • Such craters preserve evidence of:
    • Water activity
    • Volcanism
    • Surface erosion on Mars.
  • Along with the main crater, several smaller Martian landforms have been given names of places in Kerala:
    • Valiamala, Thumba, Bekal, Varkala (craters)
    • Periyar Vallis (a valley
  • The plain inside the crater is named Krishnan Palus.

Scientific Importance of Martian Craters

  • Help in:
    • Estimating the relative age of Mars’ surface
    • Studying impact history of the Solar System
    • Understanding past presence of water
  • Some Martian craters show signs of:
    • Ancient lakes
    • River channels
    • Sediment deposition

Significance for India

  • The naming:
    • Brings international recognition to Indian scientific contributions
    • Highlights India’s strong heritage in Earth and planetary sciences
  • Coincides with India’s growing role in space exploration through:
    • Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)
    • Future interplanetary missions