The NASA Virtual Solar System Exploration Research Institute (SSERVI) is creating the Lunar South Pole Atlas (LSPA) with the aim that, with a view to the landing of astronauts planned in that area for 2024 , a detailed topography of the huge mountains present at the south pole of the Moon.
As part of that atlas, NASA is mapping the topography of the region, including mountains as tall as Everest.
SSERVI
The Lunar South Pole Atlas is a collection of maps, images, illustrations, and data products designed to support NASA’s mission. When the astronauts from the Artemis program land there, they will be using the Atlas.
LSPA scientists have created two new images of those mountains that show their elevation compared to the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. The two images that you can see below correspond to Massif Malapert and Leibniz Beta .
The Malapert Massif is adjacent to Haworth Crater, and the change in elevation between the two is greater than 8 kilometers. The second new image in the LSPA is from Leibniz Beta . It is next to Shoemaker crater, and the elevation change from crater to peak is 10 kilometers, higher than Everest.