On July 15, an Italian-led team reported evidence of a large cave accessible from a crater on the Moon. It is located in the Sea of Tranquility, just 400 kilometers from the Apollo landing site.
Like more than 200 other holes found there, this one was formed by the collapse of a lava cave.
Scientists say there is a cave on the Moon that could be home to future astronauts. Photo: AP
Researchers analyzed radar measurements from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and compared the results to lava caves on Earth. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
According to scientists, radar data only reveals the beginning of this underground cave. They estimate it is at least 40 meters wide and tens of meters long, possibly more.
"Caves on the Moon have remained a mystery for more than 50 years. So it's exciting to finally be able to prove the existence of a cave," said Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento.
Most of the craters appear to be located in the Moon’s ancient lava plains, scientists say. There may also be some craters at the Moon’s south pole, the planned site for NASA astronaut landings later this decade. The craters there are thought to contain water ice, which could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.
These findings suggest there may be hundreds of craters on the Moon and thousands of lava tubes. Such places could serve as natural shelters for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays and solar radiation, as well as small meteorite impacts.
Building the initial cave habitat would have been time-consuming and challenging, the team said, especially considering the need to reinforce the cave walls to prevent them from collapsing.
The rocks and other materials inside these caves have not been altered by the harsh surface conditions over the eons, which could help scientists better understand how the Moon evolved, especially its volcanic activity.
Ngoc Anh (according to AP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phat-hien-hang-dong-tren-mat-trang-co-the-lam-noi-cu-tru-cua-phi-hanh-gia-post303612.html
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