The Moon is a primary focus of our research, particularly understanding the distribution, stability, and accessibility of water ice and other volatiles in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar poles.

Shackleton crater rim permanently shadowed regions micro cold traps
(Left) Shackleton crater's rim at the Moon's south pole. (Middle) Permanently shadowed regions that may harbor water ice. (Right) Small-scale "micro cold traps" greatly expand the potential reservoir for lunar ice.

Polar Volatiles

Water ice and other volatiles are trapped in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near the lunar poles, where temperatures can drop below 40 K (Paige et al. 2010). Our group uses thermal models and remote sensing data to map these cold traps and understand the processes that control volatile delivery, retention, and loss, including new observational constraints on the long-term history of polar ice accumulation (Aharonson et al. 2026).

Surface Thermophysical Properties

We use data from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to characterize the thermal properties of the lunar regolith (Hayne et al. 2017). These measurements reveal the structure and composition of the upper few centimeters of the surface, with implications for landing site selection and resource utilization. Recent work has extended the thermophysical framework with microphysical models of regolith porosity and latitudinal structure (Bürger et al. 2024).

Micro Cold Traps

Our research has shown that water ice may be trapped in small-scale cold traps—shadows cast by rocks and small craters—that are far more numerous than the large permanently shadowed regions (Hayne et al. 2021). These micro cold traps could significantly increase the accessible water inventory on the Moon, and their stability depends on local self‑heating and surface roughness (Formisano et al. 2025).

Artemis II Flyby Validation

During the Artemis II lunar flyby, the crew captured high-resolution photographs of the Moon that we used to validate PTM3D, our 3D ray-traced illumination and thermophysical model. See the blog post for details.

PTM3D vs Artemis II photograph
Artemis II astronaut photograph (left) and PTM3D-rendered synthetic image (right) for the same camera pose, solar geometry, and Nikon D5 + 50 mm optics.
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  • Williams, J., Valencia, S., Bennett, K. A., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2026). Morphometric Properties of the CP-21 Landing Site on the Moon at Mons Gruithuisen Gamma. Planetary Science Journal, 7, 78. Link
  • Amaro, B., Prieur, N., Rubanenko, L., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2026). Effect of Boulder-Size Distributions on Thermally Derived Rock Abundances on the Moon. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2024JE008769. Link
  • Skjetne, H. L., Singer, K. N., Stopar, J. D., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2026). Ejecta Fragment Transport Across the Moon: Implications for Lunar Sample Provenance. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 131, e2025JE009198. Link
  • Formisano, M., Raponi, A., Teodori, M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2025). The role of self-heating and roughness in micro cold trap stability: implications for lunar poles. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 543, 4187-4197. Link
  • Powell, T. M., Williams, J., Greenhagen, B. T., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2025). Discovery of a Lunar Cold Spot at Apollo 16's South Ray Crater. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2025GL116606. Link
  • Gallinger, C. L., Williams, J., Neish, C. D., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2024). Thermophysical Diversity of Young Lunar Crater Ejecta Revealed with LRO Diviner Observations. Planetary Science Journal, 5, 261. Link
  • Cohen, B. A., Petersburg, R. R., Cremons, D. R., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2024). Lunar Flashlight science ground and flight measurements and operations using a multi-band laser reflectometer. Icarus, 413, 116013. Link
  • Bürger, J., Hayne, P. O., Gundlach, B., et al. (2024). A Microphysical Thermal Model for the Lunar Regolith: Investigating the Latitudinal Dependence of Regolith Properties. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 129, e2023JE008152. Link
  • Hoover, R. H., Robbins, S. J., Hynek, B. M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2024). Depth-to-diameter Ratios of Fresh Craters on the Moon and Implications for Surface Age Estimates. Planetary Science Journal, 5, 26. Link
  • Elder, C. M., Ghent, R. R., Haber, J., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). The Variability of Lunar Mare Basalt Properties from Surface Rock Abundance. Planetary Science Journal, 4, 244. Link
  • Osinski, G. R., Melosh, H. J., Andrews-Hanna, J., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). Lunar Impact Features and Processes. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 89, 339-371. Link
  • Plescia, J. B., Cahill, J., Greenhagen, B., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). Lunar Surface Processes. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 89, 651-690. Link
  • Hurley, D. M., Siegler, M. A., Cahill, J. T. S., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). Surface Volatiles on the Moon. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 89, 787-827. Link
  • Nesnas, I. A. D., Kerber, L., Sellar, G., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). Moon Diver: Exploring a pit's exposed strata to understand lunar volcanism. Acta Astronautica, 211, 163-176. Link
  • Byron, B. D., Elder, C. M., Glotch, T. D., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). Evidence for Fine-grained Material at Lunar Red Spots: Insights from Thermal Infrared and Radar Data Sets. Planetary Science Journal, 4, 182. Link
  • Magaña, L. O., Retherford, K. D., Byron, B. D., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). LRO-LAMP Lunar South Pole Cold Traps: Assessment of H2O and Potential CO2 and NH3 Reserves. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 128, e2023JE007863. Link
  • Wilcoski, A. X., Hayne, P. O., Elder, C. M. (2023). Thermal Environments and Volatile Stability Within Lunar Pits and Caves. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 128, e2023JE007758. Link
  • Powell, T. M., Horvath, T., Lopez Robles, V., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2023). High-Resolution Nighttime Temperature and Rock Abundance Mapping of the Moon Using the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment With a Model for Topographic Removal. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 128, e2022JE007532. Link
  • Magaña, L. O., Retherford, K. D., Byron, B. D., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2022). LRO-LAMP Survey of Lunar South Pole Cold Traps: Implication for the Presence of Condensed H2O. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 127, e2022JE007301. Link
  • Lucey, P. G., Petro, N., Hurley, D. M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2022). Volatile interactions with the lunar surface. Chemie der Erde / Geochemistry, 82, 125858. Link
  • Horvath, T., Hayne, P. O., Paige, D. A. (2022). Thermal and Illumination Environments of Lunar Pits and Caves: Models and Observations From the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e99710. Link
  • Byron, B. D., Elder, C. M., Williams, J., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2022). Thermophysical Properties of Lunar Irregular Mare Patches From LRO Diviner Radiometer Data. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 127, e07214. Link
  • Williams, J., Pathare, A. V., Costello, E. S., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2022). The Effects of Terrain Properties Upon the Small Crater Population Distribution at Giordano Bruno: Implications for Lunar Chronology. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 127, e07131. Link
  • Wilcoski, A. X., Hayne, P. O., Landis, M. E. (2022). Polar Ice Accumulation from Volcanically Induced Transient Atmospheres on the Moon. Planetary Science Journal, 3, 99. Link
  • Williams, J., Greenhagen, B. T., Bennett, K. A., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2022). Temperatures of the Lacus Mortis Region of the Moon. Earth and Space Science, 9, e01966. Link
  • Landis, M. E., Hayne, P. O., Williams, J., et al. (2022). Spatial Distribution and Thermal Diversity of Surface Volatile Cold Traps at the Lunar Poles. Planetary Science Journal, 3, 39. Link
  • Avdellidou, C., Munaibari, E., Larson, R., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2021). Impacts on the Moon: Analysis methods and size distribution of impactors. Planetary and Space Science, 200, 105201. Link
  • Lucey, P. G., Hayne, P. O., Costello, E. S., et al. (2021). The spectral radiance of indirectly illuminated surfaces in regions of permanent shadow on the Moon. Acta Astronautica, 180, 25-34. Link
  • Wu, Y., Kührt, E., Grott, M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2021). Chang'E 4 Rover Spectra Revealing Micro scale Surface Thermophysical Properties of the Moon. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e89226. Link
  • Ahrens, C. J., Paige, D. A., Eubanks, T. M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2021). Small Penetrator Instrument Concept for the Advancement of Lunar Surface Science. Planetary Science Journal, 2, 38. Link
  • Hayne, P. O., Aharonson, O., Schörghofer, N. (2021). Micro cold traps on the Moon. Nature Astronomy, 5, 169-175. Link
  • Feng, J., Siegler, M. A., Hayne, P. O. (2020). New Constraints on Thermal and Dielectric Properties of Lunar Regolith from LRO Diviner and CE-2 Microwave Radiometer. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 125, e06130. Link
  • Elder, C. M., Douglass, B., Ghent, R. R., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). The Subsurface Coherent Rock Content of the Moon as Revealed by Cold-Spot Craters. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 124, 3373-3384. Link
  • Sefton-Nash, E., Williams, J., Greenhagen, B. T., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). Evidence for ultra-cold traps and surface water ice in the lunar south polar crater Amundsen. Icarus, 332, 1-13. Link
  • Williams, J., Greenhagen, B. T., Paige, D. A., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). Seasonal Polar Temperatures on the Moon. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 124, 2505-2521. Link
  • Farrell, W. M., Hurley, D. M., Poston, M. J., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). The Young Age of the LAMP-observed Frost in Lunar Polar Cold Traps. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 8680-8688. Link
  • Hendrix, A. R., Hurley, D. M., Farrell, W. M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). Diurnally Migrating Lunar Water: Evidence From Ultraviolet Data. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 2417-2424. Link
  • Jordan, A. P., Stubbs, T. J., Shusterman, M. L., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). How dielectric breakdown may contribute to the global weathering of regolith on the moon. Icarus, 319, 785-794. Link
  • Vinckier, Q., Hardy, L., Gibson, M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2019). Design and Characterization of the Multi-Band SWIR Receiver for the Lunar Flashlight CubeSat Mission. Remote Sensing, 11, 440. Link
  • Williams, J., Bandfield, J. L., Paige, D. A., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2018). Lunar Cold Spots and Crater Production on the Moon. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 123, 2380-2392. Link
  • Li, S., Lucey, P. G., Milliken, R. E., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2018). Direct evidence of surface exposed water ice in the lunar polar regions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 115, 8907-8912. Link
  • Hayne, P. O., Bandfield, J. L., Siegler, M. A., et al. (2017). Global Regolith Thermophysical Properties of the Moon From the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 122, 2371-2400. Link
  • Fisher, E. A., Lucey, P. G., Lemelin, M., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2017). Evidence for surface water ice in the lunar polar regions using reflectance measurements from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter and temperature measurements from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Icarus, 292, 74-85. Link
  • Elder, C. M., Hayne, P. O., Bandfield, J. L., et al. (2017). Young lunar volcanic features: Thermophysical properties and formation. Icarus, 290, 224-237. Link
  • Greenhagen, B. T., Neish, C. D., Williams, J., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2016). Origin of the anomalously rocky appearance of Tsiolkovskiy crater. Icarus, 273, 237-247. Link
  • Bennett, K. A., Horgan, B. H. N., Gaddis, L. R., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2016). Complex explosive volcanic activity on the Moon within Oppenheimer crater. Icarus, 273, 296-314. Link
  • Hayne, P. O., Hendrix, A., Sefton-Nash, E., et al. (2015). Evidence for exposed water ice in the Moon's south polar regions from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ultraviolet albedo and temperature measurements. Icarus, 255, 58-69. Link
  • Bandfield, J. L., Hayne, P. O., Williams, J., et al. (2015). Lunar surface roughness derived from LRO Diviner Radiometer observations. Icarus, 248, 357-372. Link
  • Glotch, T. D., Bandfield, J. L., Lucey, P. G., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2015). Formation of lunar swirls by magnetic field standoff of the solar wind. Nature Communications, 6, 6189. Link
  • Ghent, R. R., Hayne, P. O., Bandfield, J. L., et al. (2014). Constraints on the recent rate of lunar ejecta breakdown and implications for crater ages. Geology, 42, 1059-1062. Link
  • Bandfield, J. L., Song, E., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2014). Lunar cold spots: Granular flow features and extensive insulating materials surrounding young craters. Icarus, 231, 221-231. Link
  • Vasavada, A. R., Bandfield, J. L., Greenhagen, B. T., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2012). Lunar equatorial surface temperatures and regolith properties from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment. Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 117, E00H18. Link
  • Hayne, P. O., Greenhagen, B. T., Foote, M. C., et al. (2010). Diviner Lunar Radiometer Observations of the LCROSS Impact. Science, 330, 477. Link
  • Paige, D. A., Siegler, M. A., Zhang, J. A., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2010). Diviner Lunar Radiometer Observations of Cold Traps in the Moon's South Polar Region. Science, 330, 479. Link
  • Greenhagen, B. T., Lucey, P. G., Wyatt, M. B., ..., Hayne, P. O., et al. (2010). Global Silicate Mineralogy of the Moon from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer. Science, 329, 1507. Link