Visualizations by
Ernie Wright
Released on February 15, 2023
A mountain near the Moon's south pole, sometimes known informally as Leibnitz Beta, has been officially named Mons Mouton after NASA mathematician and computer programmer Melba Roy Mouton. NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) team proposed the name to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the body in charge of naming lunar features. VIPER is scheduled to land on Mons Mouton, near the western rim of Nobile crater, in 2024.
The visualizations on this page were produced to accompany the announcement of the naming. They show Mons Mouton from a number of different angles. The flat-topped mountain spans almost 100 kilometers (60 miles) and rises roughly 6000 meters (20,000 feet) above the surrounding terrain. When lighting and libration are favorable, Mons Mouton is easily seen in amateur telescopes as a staple-shaped projection along the Moon's southern limb.