What temperature is the surface of the Moon and why should I care?

This talk will discuss our current understanding of the distribution of surface temperatures of the Moon and why this matters for wider planetary science and exploration.  Measurements by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Diviner radiometer instrument have revealed the Moon’s surface to be one of temperature extremes, from over 400 K at noon on the equator to some of the lowest recorded naturally occurring temperatures at the poles of < 30 K.  I will explore why this is the case and what it means for lunar science, future exploration of the solar system and how our laboratory and numerical modelling work in Oxford are helping with the next generation of missions to airless bodies in our solar system.