Lunar south pole

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

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

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. The same pattern might apply to the Moon's northern pole, but that has fewer craters.

Lunar South Pole Media

• 

  The several hundred kilometer wide Lunar south polar region as irradiated during summer. The south pole lies at the rim of Shackleton crater.

• 

  Degree of the slopes found near the south pole of the Moon

• 

  Lunar south polar region map (>80°S).