Ancient Moon shadowed craters may house the most water ice
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.