Ancient Moon shadowed craters may house the most water ice
TL;DR Summary
New analysis using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter temperature data and thermal models shows water ice is patchy and concentrated in the Moon’s oldest, longest-shadowed southern-polar craters, suggesting lunar water arrived gradually over about 3–3.5 billion years via multiple small impacts or interior outgassing rather than a single event; this enhances the case for ice mapping and utilization in upcoming Artemis-era missions.
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