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Scientists have discovered a cave on the Moon, marking a potential breakthrough in efforts to establish a human presence there. The cave, at least 100 meters deep, could offer a protected site for a permanent lunar base, shielding astronauts from radiation, extreme temperatures, and space weather.
Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut in space, told BBC News the cave appears suitable for a base and suggested humans might inhabit lunar pits within 20 to 30 years. However, she noted the cave's depth might necessitate the use of abseiling techniques, jet packs, or lifts for entry and exit.
Researchers Lorenzo Bruzzone and Leonardo Carrer from the University of Trento in Italy discovered the cave using radar to penetrate a pit's opening on Mare Tranquillitatis, a rocky plain visible from Earth and the Apollo 11 landing site. The cave features a skylight on the Moon’s surface, leading to vertical and overhanging walls and a sloping floor, potentially extending further underground.
Formed millions or billions of years ago by lava flows, the cave resembles volcanic caves in Lanzarote, Spain, which the researchers studied as part of their work. "It’s really exciting. When you make these discoveries and look at these images, you realize you’re the first person in the history of humanity to see it,” Prof. Carrer said.
Bruzzone and Carrer believe the cave's size makes it a promising site for a lunar base. "After all, life on Earth began in caves, so it makes sense that humans could live inside them on the Moon,” Carrer added.
While the cave has yet to be fully explored, the researchers hope to use ground-penetrating radar, cameras, or robots to map it. The possibility of lunar caves was first suggested around 50 years ago, and in 2010, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of pits thought to be cave entrances. However, the depth and condition of these caves remained unknown until now.
Francesco Sauro, Coordinator of the Topical Team Planetary Caves of the European Space Agency, emphasized the potential for discovery beneath the Moon’s surface, which has largely remained unexplored. This research could also aid in exploring caves on Mars, potentially leading to the discovery of life protected from the harsh Martian surface.
Beyond its utility for human habitation, the cave could provide insights into the Moon’s history and our solar system. Rocks within the cave, shielded from space weather, may offer a pristine geological record dating back billions of years.
The findings are published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
