Each day we feature a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Shown above is a dramatically detailed composite view centered on the Moon's South Pole constructed from 1500 Clementine images. The top half shows the part of the Moon which faces the Earth while the bottom half is the lunar Farside . The images reveal a major depression very near the South Pole itself, probably caused by the impact of a comet or asteroid . The shadow region near the impact site is extensive and may be permanent - creating an area cold enough to trap water of cometary origin as ice .
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