Lunar south pole

southernmost point on the Moon

The lunar south pole is a place on the Moon. It has a special interest because ice seems to be inside the craters.[1]

Lunar south polar region (>70°S): mosaic of ~1500 images by the Clementine spacecraft
A view of the south pole of the Moon. Data suggests the possible presence of surface water ice

As the moon orbits, it keeps one face always opposite the Earth. So when the Sun shines on it, it shines obliquely on the poles. Thus it never reaches the ice inside the craters, and the water stays frozen.[2] The same pattern might apply to the Moon's northern pole, but that has fewer craters.

References

change
  1. "NASA takes aim at Moon with double sledgehammer". Space.com. February 27, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  2. Spudis, P.D.; Stockstill, K.R.; Ockels, W.J.; Kruijff, M. (1995). "Physical environment of the Lunar South Pole from Clementine data: implications for future exploration of the Moon". Abstracts of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 26: 1339. Bibcode:1995LPI....26.1339S.