Pinpointing the Moon's South Pole

This video is a data visualization showing the location of the Moon’s South Pole. In the system of lunar latitude and longitude adopted by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission, the Moon’s South Pole is located on the rim of Shackleton crater at a point marked by a red pin in this visualization. The definition and wide adoption of this standard coordinate system for the Moon is vital for mapping and exploring our nearest neighbor. With such a system, we can confidently pinpoint any feature on the Moon, including the exact location of its South Pole. LRO data will be a critical tool in helping NASA return humans to the lunar surface.

Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center