Mosaic view
The mosaic of pictures of the south polar region of the Moon by Clementine has 1,500 images, taken through a red filter. The top half of the mosaic faces Earth. Clementine has revealed what appears to be a major depression near the lunar south pole, evident from the presence of extensive shadows around the pole. This depression probably is an ancient basin formed by the impact of an asteroid or comet. A significant portion of the dark area near the pole may be in permanent shadow, and sufficiently cold to trap water of cometary origin in the form of ice.
The impact basin Schrodinger' is a two-ring basin, about 320 km in diameter. Clementine images have clarified the geological relations of Schrodinger. It is now recognised to be the second youngest impact basin on the Moon, younger than the great lmbrium basin on the near side, but older than the Orientale basin, shown by the occurrence on Schrodinger of secondary craters formed by flying debris from the Orientale impact. The center of Schrodinger is flooded by lavas.
Finally, a volcanic vent seen in the floor of Schrodinger is one of the largest single explosive volcanoes on the Moon, thus indicating that it is significantly younger than lavas filling the basin. The mosaic displays a rich variety of geological relations, the deciphering of which will take lunar scientists many years.