Mons Mouton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mons Mouton |
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LRO Wide Angle Camera mosaic
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| Highest point | |
| Listing | Lunar mountains |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Named for Melba Roy Mouton |
| English translation | Mouton Mountain |
| Language of name | Latin |
| Geography | |
| Location | the Moon |
Mons Mouton is the tallest mountain on the Moon that has been given an official name. This flat-topped mountain stands about 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) tall from its base to its peak. Scientists measured its height using special data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
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Where is Mons Mouton?
Mons Mouton is located very close to the Moon's South Pole. It sits between two craters called Nobile and Malapert. This area is special because it has places that are always in shadow. These are called Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs).
Why are Permanently Shadowed Regions important?
Permanently Shadowed Regions are extremely cold. They act like natural freezers. Scientists believe that water ice could be trapped there for a very long time. Finding water on the Moon is important because it could be used by future astronauts for drinking or even making rocket fuel.
The area around Mons Mouton also gets a lot of sunlight. This mix of constant shadow and sunlight makes it a great place for future Moon missions.
Moon Missions to Mons Mouton
Because of its unique features, Mons Mouton has been chosen as a landing site for lunar missions.
VIPER Rover Mission
The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) was a robotic mission planned to explore the Moon's South Pole. Its goal was to search for water ice and other resources. Mons Mouton was originally chosen as VIPER's landing spot. However, the VIPER mission was later canceled.
IM-2 Athena Lander Mission
After VIPER, Mons Mouton was selected as the landing site for the IM-2 Athena lunar lander. This spacecraft landed on March 6, 2025. The lander was still working after it touched down, but it ended up on its side. This made it harder for the mission to do all its planned science experiments. A similar thing happened with the company's IM-1 Odysseus spacecraft in 2024.
How Mons Mouton Formed
Scientists think Mons Mouton might be a leftover piece of the rim of a giant crater. This crater is called the South Pole–Aitken basin.
The South Pole–Aitken Basin
The South Pole–Aitken basin is one of the oldest, largest, and deepest impact craters in our entire Solar System. It formed when a huge object crashed into the Moon billions of years ago. There are even taller mountains on the Moon's far side that are also likely part of this massive basin's rings. However, these taller mountains do not have official names yet.
Naming of Mons Mouton
Before it was officially named, Mons Mouton was sometimes called "Leibnitz Beta." On May 13, 2022, it was given its current name. It was named after Melba Roy Mouton, an important American mathematician.
