A New Cave Is Discovered On The Moon

Spelunking on the Moon In a new study, scientists found a more than 330-foot-deep cave on the Moon, the first such discovery confirming their presence. “These caves have been theorized for over 50 years, but it is the first time ever that we have demonstrated their existence,” study author Lorenzo Bruzzone said in a press release. Bruzzone and his colleagues made the finding after re-analyzing data and images collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2010. The cave is located on the Mare Tranquillitatis, a rocky plain where Apollo 11 landed in 1969, and it is visible to the naked eye from Earth. The team believes it was formed millions or billions of years ago when lava flowed on the Moon and created a tunnel through the rock. They are still unsure what lies within the cave and hope that future lunar missions will use ground-penetrating radar or robots to properly map it. Studying the rock inside the cave could unveil extensive geological records about the Moon’s origins and the Solar system. “There are huge opportunities for discovery,” co-author Francesco Sauro told the BBC. The study could also help explore similar caverns on Mars’ surface, the researchers added. But the authors believe these grottos will play an important role in future human-led missions and explorations beyond Earth. The Moon is a harsh mistress because of its extreme temperatures (both hot and cold), radiation from the cosmos and the Sun, as well as runaway meteorites. These fissures will allow spacefarers to set up base inside them to avoid the dangerous conditions on the lunar surface, British astronaut Helen Sharman said. Share this story