In an unprecedented development, scientists have discovered an extensive cave on the Moon. Researchers suggest this cavern, measuring over 100 meters in depth, could be a suitable site for building a permanent human base. The realization of this colossal underground space hints at the potential for the establishment of a moonbase or even emergency lunar shelters. The cave offers a relatively stable temperature, providing natural protection from harmful cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorites, which are significant risks for space missions.
Researchers indicate that this is likely just one amongst numerous hidden caves in an “underground, undiscovered world.” With the growing international competition to establish a human presence on the Moon, it’s critical to safeguard astronauts from varied hazards such as radiation, extreme temperatures, and space weather. Nevertheless, a significant obstacle is the cave’s deep location, necessitating astronauts to use advanced methods such as ropes, jet packs, or lifts to navigate the descent and ascent.
Lorenzo Bruzzone and Leonardo Carrer from the University of Trento in Italy made this groundbreaking discovery. They used radar technology to explore the entrance of a pit located on a rocky plain known as Mare Tranquillitatis. Subsequently, radar data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) revealed that this pit, the deepest known on the Moon, connects to a cave measuring 45 meters in width and up to 80 meters in length—around the area of 14 tennis courts. Situated approximately 150 meters beneath the lunar surface, this cavern is accessible even to the naked eye from Earth and lies near the Apollo 11 landing site from 1969.
The cave is characterized by a skylight on the moon’s surface that opens into walls descending perpendicularly into the space below. This geological wonder formed millions or even billions of years ago due to ancient lava flows, which created tunnels within the lunar rock. Professor Carrer compares these subterranean structures to volcanic caves found in Lanzarote, Spain, providing a terrestrial analogue that the researchers investigated as part of their study.
To date, over 200 pits have been identified on the Moon, many situated in lava fields, hinting at extensive networks of underground lava tubes. “The primary advantage of these caves is that they offer the essential structural framework for a prospective human base, circumventing the need for elaborate construction,” stated study lead author, Leonardo Carrer. Lava tubes form from flowing lava that cools on the surface, leaving behind a drained, hollow tunnel. Such geological features exist on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, and they can range significantly in size.
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Professor Carrer expressed his excitement, stating, “When you uncover these findings and observe these images, you realize you’re the first person in history to witness them.” Upon grasping the cave’s vast dimensions, both Professors Bruzzone and Carrer envisioned its potential as a base for lunar exploration. Carrer reflected, “After all, life on Earth began in caves, so it seems logical that we could inhabit them on the Moon.”
The full extent of the cave remains unexplored, but researchers aim to deploy ground-penetrating radar, cameras, or robotic explorers to comprehensively map it. Although scientists had suspected the existence of lunar caves for about half a century, it wasn’t until 2010, when the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s camera captured images of pits, that substantial evidence was found. However, uncertainty persisted regarding the caves’ depth and structural integrity until now.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Professors Bruzzone and Carrer, some of these uncertainties have been resolved, although much remains to be discovered about the cave’s true scale. “We possess excellent surface imagery with resolutions up to 25 cm, capable of even spotting the Apollo landing sites. However, our knowledge about subsurface structures remains scant. There’s immense potential for discovery,” remarked Francesco Sauro, Coordinator of the Topical Team Planetary Caves of the European Space Agency.
Sauro also highlighted that this research could pave the way for exploring Martian caves, potentially unearthing evidence of life which could have thrived in subterranean shelters, shielded from Mars’s harsh surface conditions. The newfound cave on the Moon might not only benefit future human settlers but also provide critical insights into the Moon’s history and our solar system’s evolution. The preserved rocks within the cave, less affected by space weather, could offer a rich, detailed geological record spanning billions of years.
Katherine Joy, a professor of Earth sciences at the University of Manchester, emphasized, “Lunar cave systems are ideal sites for future crewed bases. The thick rock ceiling offers extensive protection from extreme temperatures and high-energy radiation that characterize the lunar surface. However, our understanding of the underground structures beneath these pit entrances is still minimal.”
The study, detailing this landmark discovery, has been published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy. Researchers are eager to continue their investigations, hopeful that this exploration will unlock further riveting discoveries about our celestial neighbor.
