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The Moon’s South Pole is a fascinating region to study,

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especially when you pay attention to the areas that are in sunlight and darkness over time.

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And thanks to NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, we can zoom in

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for an extremely close view of the terrain that shows how the sun shines on the South Pole.

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Here, we see how the Moon’s topography creates areas of shadows

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over the course of two lunar days, which is equal to two months on Earth.

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The flowing dance of sunlight and shadow on the surface

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reveals areas that exist in permanent darkness, nearly persistent sunshine,

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and others where the balance of light and dark fluctuates thru time.

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Studying the shadows at the South Pole

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informs scientists about the temperature at and below the surface,

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and the possibilities regarding water and other volatiles –

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all of which sheds light on what future lunar exploration will entail.