Mapping the Moon's Water at the South Pole.

A new study using data from the now-retired Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has created the first detailed, wide-area map of water distribution on the Moon. The map covers about one-quarter of the Earth-facing side of the lunar surface below 60 degrees latitude and extends to the Moon’s South Pole. The study provides hints about how water may be moving across the Moon's surface, particularly near its south pole—an important area for space exploration. NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will land in the region studied by SOFIA in late 2024 to conduct the first resource mapping mission beyond Earth.