Planetary Geology and Image Analysis Laboratory

INTRODUCTION

The Planetary Geology Laboratory is dedicated to geological studies of the Planets and smaller bodies of our Solar System. This laboratory, possibly the only of its kind in any educational institution in eastern India, has started its journey in 2013 with a research project grant,for investigating some aspects of geology of Mars, from the Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad. Since then,the laboratory has housed four major research projects, aiming various geological investigations on Mars and Moon mainly based on data acquired by Indian planetary missions like the MOM and Chandrayaan-2,sanctioned by the ISRO. The laboratory is presently equipped with two workstations and two more high-capacity computing systems.

AIM OF THE LABORATORY

The aim of the researchers working in the Planetary Science Laboratory is to understand the geological evolution of the solar system planets and smaller bodies. Presently the research is concentrated on studying tectonic and exogenic signatures on the surfaces of Mars and Moon mainly to explicate the geological history of the Lunar and Martian crusts.

The researchers have published several articles in International and National journals of repute and several conference abstracts.

Presently three Ph.D. scholars are working here. Six Master’s thesis have been written so far on Mars and Lunar geology.

Asutosh College is extremely hopeful that success of this laboratory will help popularize the research on planetary geology in this part of the country.

INVESTIGATORS AND COLLABORATORS

  • Dr. Abhik Kundu, Associate Professor, Department of Geology, Asutosh College (Principal Investigators of the research projects)
  • Prof. Nilanjan Dasgupta, Professor of Geology, Presidency University, Kolkata (Collaborator, Co-Investigator of the on-going ISRO RESPOND project and also the completed projects)
  • Dr. A.S. Arya, Head, Planetary Science Division, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad (Collaborator and Principal Investigator, from SAC, of the on-going Chandrayaan -2 collaborative project)
  • Mr. Satadru Bhattacharya, Scientist, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad (SAC Focal person in on-going ISRO RESPOND project)
  • Dr. Rwiti Basu, Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Asutosh College (Co-Investigator of the Chandrayaan -2 collaborative project)

SCHOLARS

  • Dr. Keyur De
  • Mr. Dipayan Dasgupta
  • Mr. Supratik Basu
  • Ms. Joyita Thapa