A moon-scanning method that can automatically classify important lunar features from telescope images could significantly improve the efficiency of selecting sites for exploration. There is more than meets the eye to picking a landing or exploration site on the moon. The visible area of the lunar surface is larger than Russia and is pockmarked by thousands of craters and crisscrossed by canyon-like rilles. The choice of future landing and exploration sites may come down to the most promising prospective locations for construction, minerals or potential energy resources. However, scanning by eye across such a large area, looking for features perhaps a few hundred meters across, is laborious and often inaccurate, which makes it difficult to pick optimal areas for exploration.

A new technique of moon scanning could help automatically categorize the essential lunar features from telescopic images and can also remarkably enhance the efficiency of choosing sites for exploration. There is much more to choosing a landing or exploration site on the Moon than what is just observed. The lunar surface's visible area is bigger compared to Russia and is pockmarked by thousands of craters and crisscrossed by canyon-like rilles. However, scanning the larger area by eyes, searching for features that measure a few hundred meters across is strenuous and not typically perfect. This makes it hard to select an ideal area for exploration.