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Japan's SELENE Disproves Concept of 'Peak of Eternal Light' on the Moon March 5, 2009

Posted by Nick Azer in : Japan, Kaguya, Malapert, Peak of Eternal Light, Polar ice, Shackleton, solar power , 4comments

In what seems to be a little-noticed but highly important development for lunar base planning, Japan‘s SELENE (also known as Kaguya) lunar orbiter last month determined that the concept of a ‘Peak of Eternal Light‘ at either of the lunar poles does not exist.

The possibility of a Peak of Eternal Light at one of several locations, including the rim of Shackleton Crater or on Malapert (both at the South Pole), made those locations prime candidates for early lunar bases. Having eternal sunlight is, clearly, an advantage for any outpost relying largely on solar power :) .

Some of these points at the lunar poles do have as much as 89% illumination, though, so they remain very strong locations as far as near-constant solar power.

The pessimists of the universe, though, will rejoice in knowing that permanent shadow was confirmed to exist–leading to potential water ice.

The JAXA team’s findings were published in the U.S. journal of Geophysics last month.

Picture of the Week: That's No Space Station… July 11, 2008

Posted by Nick Azer in : Malapert, Peak of Eternal Light, Picture of the Week, Shackleton , add a comment

Reversing the astute observation of Obi-Wan Kenobi, this Death Star-like image is not of a space station (of course), but of Shackleton crater near the Moon’s south pole.
Along with Malapert mountain, this is considered one of the leading candidates for the location of an initial moon colony; while it’s interior is in perpetual shadow, the rim is a Peak of Eternal Light, which is (as you can probably imagine) a solar panel’s dream, providing an ideal source of energy for a base.

Picture of the Week: A Model Example June 26, 2008

Posted by Nick Azer in : Malapert, Picture of the Week , add a comment

That is a model of Malapert and the surrounding area (click for larger image), created by high school students for a project with NASA’s Tom Riley of the Goddard Space Center. Labeled on there is Mount Malapert itself (a Peak of Eternal Light, which as you can imagine is good for solar power) on the right, the South Pole below it, and to the upper left the students’ proposed spot for a settlement. The Malapert area is a leading candidate for the location of NASA’s moon base, which’ll be up and running by 2030.

Also, there’s a section rather curiously marked “The Cold and the Dark”. A quick google on that turns up a book about the aftermath of nuclear war…hmm.

Picture of the Week: Shackleton Crater+ Malapert April 9, 2008

Posted by Nick Azer in : Malapert, Peak of Eternal Light, Picture of the Week, Shackleton , add a comment

Here for the first installment of the Luna C/I Picture of the Week (every Wednesday) is a view of mankind’s future colonial site(s): Shackleton Crater , with Malapert Mountain (a Peak of Eternal Light) on the horizon. The image is courtesy of JAXA‘s lunar orbiter, SELENE (a.k.a. Kayuga). Due to the eternal sunlight on Malapert, and similar conditions on the rim of Shackleton, this area near the South Pole is a perfect location for solar power.

Get used to that above landscape; we’ll be seeing it a lot in the next 30 years. (Click here for a much larger version.)