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New moon view

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter releases detailed images

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite has imaged the moon’s craggy craters in great detail and identified new possible markers of water ice, NASA scientists reported September 17 at a press briefing.

LUNAR MERCURY The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter detected surface temperatures on the moon’s south pole during the day (left) and night (right). Regions sheltered from the sun remain cold enough to harbor water ice or other volatiles. ~~ NASA/UCLA

SEEING THE SURFACE Altitude measurements give scientists a detailed look at the topography of the lunar south pole, shown here. Red regions are high altitude, and blue regions are low altitude. ~~ NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center