CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have confirmed a cave on the moon not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago and suspect there are hundreds of others that could house future astronauts.
An Italian-led team reported on Monday that there is evidence of a sizable cave accessible from the deepest known well on the Moon. It is located in the Sea of Tranquility, just 400 kilometers from the Apollo 11 landing site.
The pit, like more than 200 others discovered up there, was created by the collapse of a lava tube.
The researchers analyzed radar measurements from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and compared the results to lava tubes on Earth. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
The radar data reveals only the initial part of the underground cavity, according to the scientists. They estimate it to be at least 40 meters wide and tens of meters long, probably more.
“Lunar caves have remained a mystery for more than 50 years. Therefore, it was exciting to be able to finally prove its existence,” wrote Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento in an email.
Most of the pits appear to be located on the Moon’s ancient lava plains, according to scientists. There may also be some at the Moon’s south pole, the planned location for NASA astronaut landings later this decade. Permanently shadowed craters are believed to contain frozen water that could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.
During NASA’s Apollo program, 12 astronauts landed on the Moon, starting with Armstrong and Aldrin on July 20, 1969.
The findings suggest there may be hundreds of pits on the Moon and thousands of lava tubes. These locations could serve as a natural shelter for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays and solar radiation, as well as micrometeorite attacks. Building habitats from scratch would be more time-consuming and challenging, even considering the potential need to reinforce cave walls to prevent collapse, the team said.
The rocks and other materials inside these caves – unaltered by harsh surface conditions over time – can also help scientists better understand how the Moon evolved, especially with regard to its volcanic activity.
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