<
https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/15/underground-cave-found-on-moon-could-be-ideal-base-for-explorers>
"Researchers have found evidence for a substantial underground cave on the moon
that is accessible from the surface, making the spot a prime location to build
a future lunar base.
The cave appears to be reachable from an open pit in the Mare Tranquillitatis
(Sea of Tranquility), the ancient lava plain where the Apollo 11 astronauts
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the moon more than half a
century ago.
Analysis of radar data collected by Nasa’s lunar reconnaissance orbiter (LRO)
revealed that the Mare Tranquillitatis pit, the deepest known pit on the moon,
leads to a cave 45 metres wide and up to 80 metres long, an area equivalent to
14 tennis courts. The cave lies about 150 metres beneath the surface.
Lorenzo Bruzzone, of the University of Trento in Italy, said the cave was
“probably an empty lava tube”, adding that such features could serve as human
habitats for future explorers as they were “a natural shelter against the harsh
lunar environment”.
Lunar orbiters first spotted pits on the moon more than a decade ago. Many are
thought to be “skylights” that connect to underground caves such as lava tubes,
giant underground tunnels that form through volcanic processes.
Such caves could form the basis for a moonbase or an emergency lunar shelter
because the temperature is relatively stable inside and astronauts would be
naturally shielded from harmful cosmic rays, solar radiation and
micrometeorites."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
