Sneak peek at the highest-resolution 3D map of the Moon that Chandrayaan 2’s orbiter is putting together

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently working on the highest resolution 3D map of the Moon to date.
  
• Chandrayaan 2’s orbiter is using a combination of four instruments to capture details of what’s on and below the lunar surface.
  
• ISRO submitted its initial observations and analysis to the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2020.
  

Even though India’s Chandrayaan 2 mission wasn’t a complete success — with its lander crash landing on the Moon — it’s still powering through to deliver a few gems. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is using the pictures captured by the orbiter to create the highest resolution 3D map of Moon till date.

Using the orbiter’s Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC) to capture these detailed images. At its highest resolution, the OHRC can capture images at 0.25 meters per pixel.

The only other instrument surveilling Earth’s natural satellite that comes anywhere close is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) that can capture pictures of the Moon at 0.5 meters per pixel.

The OHRC isn’t alone in its endeavour. The Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC 2) can capture 3D images, the Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS) is looking for water, and the Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (DFSAR) can see below the surface.

Scientists at ISRO submitted a draft of the final results from the OHRC on Chandrayaan 2’s orbiter to be presented at the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the conference has been cancelled.