Title : Farside Volcanism on the Moon: A Remote Sensing Perspective

Abstract

Volcanism on the Moon is primarily manifested in the form of mare basalts, which cover ⁓17% of its surface. Mare basalts exhibit significant compositional diversity and are mainly concentrated within and adjacent to the large circular impact structures, and have a total volume estimated at ~107 km3. Interestingly, the distribution of mare basalts is highly asymmetric, whereby the nearside hosts extensive basaltic emplacements and the farside exhibits remarkably fewer mare basalts. In my talk, I will be providing a detailed account of how the understanding of this fundamental dichotomy has evolved from the first glimpse of the farside by Luna 3 in 1959 to present-day (with missions like Clementine, Lunar Prospector, LRO, Chandrayaan, Kaguya, GRAIL, Chang’e). Despite these advances, key questions remain unanswered on the nearside-farside dichotomy in volcanism. I will discuss the existing gaps in the knowledge and the objectives of my thesis. The talk will conclude with preliminary results based on morphological and chronological studies of the Freundlich-Sharonov Basin, one of my study areas on the farside of the Moon that exhibits evidence of mare emplacement.