India’s moon lander, Vikram, detected a “seismic event” on the lunar surface on September 7, 2023. The event lasted for about 5 seconds and had a magnitude of 4. The last time a moonquake of this magnitude was detected was in 1976, during NASA’s Apollo missions.
The seismic event was detected by Vikram’s seismometer, which is one of the instruments on board the lander. The seismometer is designed to detect vibrations on the lunar surface, including moonquakes, meteor impacts, and other seismic events.
The exact cause of the seismic event is not yet known. However, scientists believe that it could be caused by a number of factors, such as the impact of a meteor, the movement of tectonic plates, or the release of gas from the lunar interior.
The detection of this seismic event is a significant scientific achievement. It is the first time that a moonquake has been detected in nearly 50 years, and it provides new insights into the geological activity of the moon.
The seismic event is also a major boost for India’s space program. Vikram is the first Indian spacecraft to land on the moon’s south pole, and the detection of the seismic event is a testament to the success of the mission.
Scientists are still analyzing the data from the seismic event, and they hope to learn more about the moon’s geological activity in the coming months and years.