Scientists confirm cave on the moon that could be used to shelter future explorers
- Italian-led team reported evidence of a large cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon, located at the Sea of Tranquility
Scientists have confirmed a cave on the moon, not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago, and suspect there are hundreds more that could house future astronauts.
An Italian-led team reported on Monday that there is evidence for a sizeable cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon. It is located at the Sea of Tranquility, just 250 miles (400km) from Apollo 11’s landing site.
The pit, like the more than 200 others discovered up there, was created by the collapse of a lava tube.
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Researchers analysed radar measurements by Nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and compared the results with lava tubes on Earth. Their findings appeared in the journal Nature Astronomy.
The radar data reveals only the initial part of the underground cavity, according to the scientists. They estimate it is at least 130ft (40 metres) wide and tens of metres long, probably more.
“Lunar caves have remained a mystery for over 50 years. So it was exciting to be able to finally prove the existence” of one, Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento, wrote in an email.
Most of the pits seem to be located in the moon’s ancient lava plains, according to the scientists. There also could be some at the moon’s south pole, the planned location of Nasa’s astronaut landings later this decade. Permanently shadowed craters there are believed to hold frozen water that could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.
