Shadows at the Lunar South Pole . ... Remaining convincingly in shadow, the floor of the 19 kilometer diameter Shackleton crater is seen near the center of the map. The lunar south pole itself is at about 9 o'clock on the crater's rim. Since the Moon's axis of rotation stays almost perpendicular to the ecliptic plane , crater floors near the lunar south and north poles can remain in permanent shadow and mountain tops in nearly continuous sunlight. ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...