Crater wall on surface of Moon holds ice

Scientists have found that small patches of ice could make up 5-10% of material inside a permanently shadowed lunar crater located near the moon's south pole.

Scientists have found that small patches of ice could make up 5-10% of material inside a permanently shadowed lunar crater located near the moon's south pole.

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The tilt of the lunar spin axis means Shackleton's interior is permanently dark and very cold. Researchers have long thought that ice might collect there.

Scientists using the Mini-RF radar on Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have estimated the ice percentage by weight, according to the team led by Bradley Thomson at Boston University's Centre for Remote Sensing.

"These results contribute to the story of water on the moon," says LRO's project scientist.