This view of the Moon's South Pole is a composite made from several images taken over 2 months in 1994. Notice how some areas remain in dark shadows throughout that entire time. Click on image for full size (166 Kb) Image courtesy NASA.

The poles of Earth's Moon are interesting sites due to extremes of sunlight and darkness. Earth is tilted on its axis by 23°, which causes our seasons including the alternating "midnight Sun" and long winter nights near Earth's poles. By contrast, the Moon is tilted only slightly (with respect to the Sun) at an angle of just 1.5°. Lacking seasonal variations in lighting, places near the Moon's poles are perpetually on the edge between daylight and darkness. Places near the Moon's poles that have extreme elevations, such as the heights of mountains and the depths of craters, may be almost permanently illuminated or forever in darkness.

A mountain top that is perpetually bathed in sunlight is called a "Peak of Eternal Light". Scientists aren't sure if any such peaks actually exist on the Moon, but there are several which are at least close. Four peaks along the rim of Peary crater near the North Pole as well as Malapert Mountain and some smaller ridges near the South Pole may be lit nearly all of the time. Such locations are very interesting to space explorers planning trips to the Moon. Solar panels built on top of one of these peaks would be able to supply an almost constant flow of electrical power for robotic explorers or human colonists.

Some deep craters near the poles may be opposites of Peaks of Eternal Light; they might be permanently shrouded in darkness. One of the largest craters in the Solar System, the South Pole-Aitken basin, covers an area that includes the Moon's South Pole. The floor of this crater is 6 km (3.7 miles) lower in some places than the average elevation of the Moon. Permanently darkened crater floors are exceptionally cold and may harbor water ice left over from comet impacts. If such ice actually is found near the Moon's poles, the news will excite scientists and space explorers alike. Ancient ice deposits could provide scientists with clues about the Moon's history. Since water ice can be used for drinking water, to produce breathable oxygen, and to make rocket fuel, explorers are keen to know whether ice can be found at the Moon's poles or not.

NASA's LCROSS mission will attempt to detect signs of ice in craters near the Moon's South Pole. In October 2009 the spacecraft will observe the plume of material kicked up by a controlled crash of a booster rocket stage into a crater near the South Pole.

This picture shows the Moon's South Pole. Some areas near the pole are in dark shadows all of the time. There might be water ice in some of those shady places. Click on image for full size (166 Kb) Image courtesy NASA.

The North and South Pole of the Moon are interesting places. Some areas near the Moon's poles are almost always in sunlight. Other places near the poles are always in dark shadows.

Earth is tilted on its axis by 23°. This tilt causes our seasons. During summer it is always light near the pole, but in the winter it is dark all the time. The Moon is hardly tilted at all (less than 2°), so it doesn't have seasons. Places near the Moon's poles are always on the edge between day and night.

High mountains near the Moon's poles might get sunlight almost all of the time. That would be a great place for explorers to build solar panels. The panels would make electricity almost all of the time, since they would almost always be in sunlight. There are peaks near the North Pole and near the South Pole on the Moon that are probably lit nearly all of the time.

There are also some really dark, cold places near the Moon's poles. The bottoms of some deep craters may be in dark shadows all of the time. That would make them very cold, since they wouldn't be heated by sunlight. There might even be water ice in some of those dark craters. Ice could tell us a lot about the Moon's history. It could also be used by astronauts as drinking water, to make oxygen to breath, and to create rocket fuel.

This picture shows the Moon's South Pole. Some areas near the pole are in dark shadows all of the time. There might be water ice in some of those shady places. Click on image for full size (166 Kb) Image courtesy NASA.

The North and South Pole of the Moon are interesting places. Some areas near the Moon's poles are almost always in sunlight. Other places near the poles are always in dark shadows.

Earth is tilted on its axis. This tilt causes our seasons. During summer it is always light near the pole, but in the winter it is dark all the time. The Moon is hardly tilted at all, so it doesn't have seasons. Places near the Moon's poles are always on the edge between day and night.

High mountains near the Moon's poles might get sunlight almost all of the time. That would be a great place for explorers to build solar panels. The panels would make electricity almost all of the time, since they would almost always be in sunlight. There are peaks near the North Pole and near the South Pole on the Moon that are probably lit nearly all of the time.

There are also some really dark, cold places near the Moon's poles. The bottoms of some deep craters may be in dark shadows all of the time. That would make them very cold, since they wouldn't be heated by sunlight. There might even be water ice in some of those dark craters. Ice could be used by astronauts as drinking water, to make oxygen to breath, and to create rocket fuel.