Researchers using Europe's SMART-1 Moon orbiter have peiced together a mosaic map of the lunar north pole that could ultimately be helpful in picking locations for future lunar bases.
The poles are interesting to scientists for several reasons. Some tall crater rims have near-constant sunlight, even in the lunar winter. These areas, poetically called "peaks of eternal light" could be good places to set up solar-powered facilities, due to their constant illumination and relatively stable temperature.
The poles are also close to areas, such as deep craters, which may contain water ice.
The new polar map complements similar data produced by the U.S. Clementine mission in the 1990s, but has provided more detailed information about these areas of perpetual or near-perpetual illumination.
SMART-1: Travel maps of the lunar north pole [ESA Press release]
(Image: Mosaic map of the lunar north pole. Credit: ESA/Space-X (Space Exploration Institute))
