Sydney, Jun 19 (IANS/EFE): A team of Australian scientists has identified 280 craters on the moon's surface using a combination of gravitational data and topographical images from satellites, media reports said.

A high-definition map prepared by the researchers at Curtin University in Perth identifies lunar craters not previously detected, ABC reported Tuesday.

The project was initially designed to capture high-resolution images of the Earth, but it was later expanded to study the moon and Mars.

Initial observations focused on craters on the dark side of the moon, which is not visible from the Earth, and researchers later decided to make a map of all lunar craters, Will Featherstone, one of the scientists working on the project, said.

Scientists combined gravitational data and topographical images to "obtain more consistent signals" that show the presence of the craters, Featherstone said.

The team is also working on a gravitational map of Mars to study the planet's internal structure, Featherstone said.