Lamp Lyman Alpha Map

Lamp Lyman Alpha Map

This image, produced by LAMP aboard NASA's LRO reveal features at the Moon's south poles in the regions that lie in perpetual darkness. They show many permanently shadowed regions, or PSRs, are darker at far-ultraviolet wavelengths and redder than nearby surface areas that receive sunlight. The darker PSR regions are consistent with having large surface porosities (indicating "fluffy" soils) while the reddening is consistent with the presence of water frost on the surface.

Credits: NASA/GSFC/SwRI