<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro1_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273" srcset="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro1_0.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273 400w, https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro1_0.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551 800w" > Images from the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 (Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) )

Understanding of the lunar surface has potentially reached its zenith in 2019 with many nations keenly focusing on the Moon. Last week, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released very high spatial resolution images of the Moon taken from the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. The US space agency, NASA has also released a visual dataset of the Moon.

‘Sharpest Image Ever’

The Orbiter High-Resolution Camera (OHRC) onboard ISRO’s Chanrayaan-2 is capable of providing high-resolution images of the Moon. ISRO reports that it allows for the sharpest images ever from a lunar orbiter platform. Releasing the pictures taken from the OHRC on Friday, ISRO said that it is an essential new tool for lunar topographic studies of select regions.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_3.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273" srcset="https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_3.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273 400w, https://s.w-x.co/util/image/w/in-isro_3.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551 800w" > Images from the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 (Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) )

The OHRC operates in the visible range of radiation and has a spatial resolution of 25 cm from a 100 km orbit—meaning it can distinguish an object of 25 cm on the lunar surface. The camera has a swath width of 3 km which means that it can scan a horizontal distance of 3 km at a time. These capabilities of OHRC helps in providing the sharpest images of lunar topography assisting the scientists in deciphering the Moon's mysteries.

The images released on Friday were acquired at 4:38 am on September 5 and covered a part of the crater named BOGUSLAWSKY E and its surroundings. The area lies in the southern polar region of the Moon, and the crater is named after a German astronomer Palon H. Ludwig von Boguslawsky. Earlier after the loss of communication with the lander Vikram, ISRO had reported that the precise launch and mission management had ensured a long life of almost seven years for the orbiter.

3-D Mapping of Moon

If you ever wished to run around on the Moon surface, it might be possible soon, at least virtually. Last week, NASA released a stunning new animation of lunar landscape called CGI Moon Kit. The dataset, composed of data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), is free to download. The dataset enables designers to create virtual experience of the Moon in games and other multimedia applications.

Ernie Wright from the Scientific Visualisation Studio at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre developed the CGI Moon Kit as an internal resource. However, multiple requests for the data pushed Wright to make the data public. The LRO is a robotic spacecraft focused on identifying potential resources of high scientific values and favourable terrain for future robotic and human missions.