ISRO releases 1st illuminated image of Moon by Chandrayaan-2's IIRS

ISRO on Thursday announced that Chandrayaan 2 has begun spectroscopic studies of the lunar surface. It has put out the first illuminated image of the lunar surface by Chandrayaan's payload. Detailing the procedure by which the payload acquired the image, ISRO said that Imaging Infrared Spectrometer (IIRS) is set on Chandrayaan-2. It is meant to measure the reflected sunlight and emitted part of Moonlight from the lunar surface. The major objective of IIRS, as per ISRO, is to understand the origin and evolution of the Moon in a geologic context. ISRO also released an infographic detailing the observation carried out by Chandrayaan 2 on the lunar surface. ISRO said that preliminary analysis has suggested that IIRS could successfully measure the variations in the reflected solar radiation that bounces off the lunar surface from different kinds of surface types. 

READ: ISRO shares first findings from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter's payload CLASS 

Here is ISRO's tweet:

WATCH: Chandrayaan 2: NASA releases pictures of Vikram's landing site

Chandrayaan 2 Observes Solar Flares

The orbiter of Chandrayaan 2, that has been rotating around the Moon, observed a series of small flares from the Sun on September 30, said ISRO. This observation was made with the Solar X-ray monitor on Chandrayaan 2.  Detailing the process, ISRO said that the orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 uses two instruments to measure such phenomena. As per ISRO, it was initially installed in the ship to measure the lunar elemental composition using the X-rays emitted by the Sun, however, it detected the solar flares of the sun.

READ: ISRO releases first images of Moon captured by Chandrayaan2's OHRC

NASA released Chandrayaan-2's picture 

NASA on September 27 released pictures of the landing site of Chandrayaan 2. Releasing the first set of pictures, NASA said that the team was unable to locate the Vikram lander and will try again in October. LRO will next fly over the landing site on October 14 when lighting conditions will be more favourable, John Keller, Deputy Project Scientist Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission, Goddard Space Flight Centre, told PTI via email. The NASA statement also said that Vikram lander might be hiding in shadows.  

READ: Solar X-ray Monitor on Chandrayaan 2 observes solar flares: ISRO