On Martian surface, a slice of Kerala: Periyar river, Varkala beach, ISRO birthplace (LIST INCLUDES SEVEN INDIAN NAMES FOR GEOLOGICAL FEATURES ON MARS, INCLUDING CRATER NAMED AFTER RENOWNED GEOLOGIST M S KRISHNAN), Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced on November 24 the naming of several geological features on Mars after Indian locations.
• Seven Indian names, including Periyar River, Bekal Fort, Varkala Beach, Thumba, and Valiamala, have been assigned to Martian geological features.
• A 77 km diameter crater on Mars has been named after renowned geologist M.S. Krishnan, along with a 50 km diameter plain surface called Krishnan Palus.
• The naming proposal was sent to scientists at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), based on their ongoing research.

Detailed Insights:

• The IAU uses specific nomenclature rules for naming Martian features, with large craters (over 60 km) named after scientists and smaller craters named after towns/villages with populations under 100,000.
• The Varkala crater (1.4 km wide) is significant due to the geological importance of Varkala cliff's jarosite remains, which offer links to Martian land composition.
• Valiamala, home to IIST, is a smaller crater (13.5 km diameter) named on Mars, while Thumba, the birthplace of ISRO, also has a crater named after it.
• Periyar, Kerala's longest river (300 km), is the name given to a Martian valley, and Bekal Fort, a mid-17th-century fort, is honored with a 4.9 km diameter crater.

Key Concepts Involved:

• International Astronomical Union (IAU): The internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and their surface features.
• Planetary Nomenclature: The system and conventions used for naming features on planets, moons, asteroids, and other celestial bodies.
• Geological Survey of India: A scientific agency responsible for conducting geological surveys and research in India.