top of page

Moon Cave Discovery

1440 Daily Digest

An international team of scientists has confirmed for the first time the existence of a lava tube in the lunar subsurface, marking a potential location for future lunar bases. Led by the University of Trento in Italy, researchers reanalyzed data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter using special techniques to detect radar reflections that point to a massive tunnel on the moon.


The underground cavern, located in the Mare Tranquillitatis pit near where Apollo 11 landed, is approximately 500 feet below the surface and measures about 150 feet wide and 260 feet long (lava tubes on Earth typically have a diameter of about 33 to 98 feet). This structure could provide natural protection against the harsh lunar environment, including extreme temperatures, cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorites.


Lava tubes form when molten lava flows beneath a hardened surface layer, creating a tunnel as the lava drains, leaving an empty underground cavern. At least 200 pits, at least 16 of which are thought to have lava tubes, have been identified on the moon.

Comments


  • White Facebook Icon

© 2024 389 Country. Powered by Talt Multi Media

bottom of page