Hundreds of Caves Found on the Moon, Potential Future Dwelling Sites

JAKARTA – Scientists confirm the existence of caves on the moon. It is estimated that there are hundreds of similar caves that could be used as future astronaut housing.

The cave on the moon is located not far from where the first astronauts to land on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, 55 years ago. Scientists also suspect that there are hundreds more caves that could become astronauts’ homes in the future.

Daily Sabah reported, Friday (19/7/2024) a team led by Italian scientists reported that there is evidence of a large cave. This cave can be accessed from the deepest hole on the moon. It is located in the Sea of ​​Tranquility, or only 400 kilometers from the Apollo 11 landing site.

More than 200 other holes were found, thought to have been formed by the collapse of lava tunnels.

The researchers analyzed radar measurements from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and compared the results to lava tunnels on Earth. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The article said that the radar data only revealed the beginning of the underground cavity. They estimated it to be about 40 meters wide and tens of meters long.

“Lunar caves have remained a mystery for more than 50 years, so it is very exciting to finally prove the existence of one,” wrote Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento in an email.

Most of the craters appear to be located in ancient lunar lava plains, scientists say. There may also be some at the moon’s south pole, or the site of a planned NASA astronaut landing later this decade. Craters that are always in the moon’s shadow are also thought to hold frozen water that could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.