Picture of the Week: That's No Space Station...

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

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

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.)