Kerala on Mars: Periyar, Thumba and Varkala claim new cosmic addresses on the Red Planet

The newly designated craters on Mars (Image: IAU)

The red plains of Mars now hold familiar echoes. Places once heard across Kerala now stand quietly on another world. These names mark fresh links between local memory and distant terrain.

Why were Kerala names chosen for Martian sites?

Several Kerala names now appear across Martian features. The International Astronomical Union approved these new titles recently. Thumba, Varkala, Periyar, Valiamala and Bekal now join Mars. A 3.5 billion-year-old crater gained special recognition. This crater lies within the Xanthe Terra region on Mars. It now honours noted Indian geologist MS Krishnan.

Researchers from Kerala proposed these related feature names. Asif Iqbal Kakkassery and Rajesh V J Kakkassery led the effort. They previously worked with the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. Rajesh now teaches at Government College in Kasaragod. They worked with another IIST researcher also named Rajesh. Their study identified glacial and fluvial signs within the crater. Krishnan Crater spans around seventy kilometres in width. Krishnan Palus and Periyar Vallis confirm old water activity.

Smaller craters now carry names linked to Kerala directly. Valiamala honours the home of IIST. Thumba recalls the birthplace of India’s early space efforts. Varkala was chosen for cliffs resembling Martian exposures. Bekal nods to the region’s historic fort and culture. Periyar recalls Kerala’s longest and most significant river. MS Krishnan qualified under IAU rules for crater naming. His former role at the Geological Survey of India met that requirement.

How did the naming process reach final approval?

The naming team faced early rejections from the IAU. Some names needed clearer pronunciation for global use. Some required stricter checks for compliance. Their persistence brought formal acceptance after several rounds. Their research appears in Meteoritics and Planetary Science. The findings reveal habitability signs within Xanthe Terra. Water shaped several of these mapped Martian features.

Kerala now joins earlier Indian names found on Mars. Ganga and craters named after Devendra Lal remain important examples. These new additions widen India’s presence across Martian maps.

Scientists in Ahmedabad added further Indian links last year. The Physical Research Laboratory identified three unnamed Martian craters. These craters lie within the Tharsis volcanic highlands. The IAU later named them Lal, Mursan and Hilsa. One recalls a former PRL director. Two recall small Indian towns with cultural relevance.

These approvals place Indian names firmly on Martian soil. They carry history, science and identity into distant terrain.