The moon’s history and the possible role it may have played in the origin of life on earth is one reason why scientists want to explore its south pole. (Illustration: News18)
India’s Chandrayaan-3 and Russia’s Luna-25 are inching closer towards the moon and could be the first moon exploratory devices to land on the southern pole of the moon. (Illustration: News18)
The lunar south pole is covered with perpetual darkness in some areas and the terrain is rugged and treacherous with very low temperatures. (Illustration: News18)
However, the lunar south pole also offers an opportunity to study materials from the Moon’s deep crust and mantle which may shed light into planetary formation. (Illustration: News18)
The potential presence of water in the moon's southern pole also has excited scientists and pushed them to probe further. (Illustration: News18)
The temperatures on the moon's south pole can rise up to 54°C and can fall to -334°C. (Illustration: News18)
There are large craters on the moon’s south pole which are of great importance to scientists. (Illustration: News18)
Chandrayaan-3, which is solar powered, must land during the lunar day in order to charge itself and carry on with its exploration. (Illustration: News18)
Chandrayaan-3 and Luna-25, of India and Russia, respectively, will attempt soft landings on the moon's south pole. (Illustration: News18)
The view of how the moon’s south pole looks has been captured by the NASA-launched Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). (Illustration: News18)
The LRO’s Wide Angle Camera Mosaic and Altimeter has helped understand the terrain and topography of the south pole of the moon. (Illustration: News18)
The LRO Camera clicked pictures of sunlight falling in Shackleton Crater and the de Gerlache crater. (Illustration: News18)
The lunar south pole is also a potential candidate for future human outposts. (Illustration: News18)
Maximum surface temperature and spectral detections of water-ice on the surface of the lunar south pole has also been observed. (Illustration: News18)