Illuminating the Moon's Dark Side with NASA's ShadowCam.

NASA's ShadowCam instrument has captured detailed images of the shadowy region of the Moon's south pole, including Shackleton Crater, using its ability to operate in extremely low-light conditions. Developed by Malin Space Science Systems and Arizona State University, ShadowCam is 200 times more sensitive than the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow Angle Camera. The camera is aboard the Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter and has routinely captured images of the Moon's polar regions. ShadowCam's images have helped scientists characterize the boulder shape and velocity and regolith features, furthering our understanding of the geotechnical properties of the Moon.