* No atmosphere: The Moon has virtually no atmosphere to trap heat, unlike Earth. This means there's no insulation against the intense heat of the sun or the frigid cold of space.
* Direct sunlight: In direct sunlight, temperatures can soar to 127°C (261°F). This is due to the Moon's surface absorbing the sun's energy without any atmospheric filtering.
* Deep shade: In the permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles, temperatures remain consistently frigid, at around -233°C (-387°F). This extreme cold is caused by the lack of any sunlight reaching these areas.
Therefore, the temperature difference between the sunlit and shaded sides of the Moon can be a staggering 360°C (680°F). This massive temperature swing is one of the most significant challenges for any future lunar settlements.
