Molecular Water in the Lunar Far South Using 6-Micron Spectral Imaging

Explore the groundbreaking findings from the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy's (SOFIA) final year of lunar observations in this 16-minute video presentation. Delve into the detailed distribution of water on the Moon's surface, focusing on the south pole and lunar far south regions up to -60 degrees latitude. Discover how these observations, the first to create fully sampled maps resolving individual mountains and craters down to 10 km size, reveal a fascinating correlation between lunar water and topographic features. Learn how shaded regions behind high-altitude features contain more water than exposed, sunward areas, providing valuable insights into the Moon's water distribution patterns and their potential implications for future lunar exploration and resource utilization.

Molecular Water in the Lunar Far South Using 6-Micron Spectral Imaging