Scientists Find Underground Cave on Moon

An Italian-led team of researchers has confirmed a significant cave on the moon!

[{"selector":"#anim-ddf042d8-3887-459c-82ab-1bb4a716b50c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.83026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8b5cc2e-8c5c-48eb-9192-8ef268228e61","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fe32f32-232a-4011-94ab-fad5673f52cc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This cave could provide shelter for future astronauts and explorers. Exciting times ahead!

[{"selector":"#anim-0649d24f-41f1-4dd2-abc7-414b8efcd508","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.83026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94d3781f-c83e-429b-a613-930cf939fa3d","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcaed3ee-e8c6-4261-8452-a851e5cec6d0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Located near the Sea of Tranquility, it’s just 400 km from Apollo 11’s landing site.

[{"selector":"#anim-b424542d-3279-47ae-9873-e419ed1c88c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.83026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9164d2d-7066-4f8b-83a6-ab96b337ae0c","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a81713c0-d654-4dfb-bbee-9d1ed02198ac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The cave was formed by the collapse of a lava tube, like over 200 others found on the moon.

[{"selector":"#anim-ce3f0e05-d92c-4e33-bc70-0690db756590","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.46125%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9979327a-3da1-493e-9751-07f071d53bc8","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7cbc971-30b7-49f1-902b-bca5b96251b0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Lunar caves have remained a mystery for over 50 years,” say researchers Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone.

[{"selector":"#anim-f9aed8d4-e23f-4dc0-a6c3-e99863994725","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.83026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0e24cc7-dcd4-4771-9ad1-fbf5da0fab8f","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ca41b1b-46e8-40f2-8ff7-076978a418b2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists analyzed radar measurements to confirm its existence.

[{"selector":"#anim-8302d024-3b2c-44d2-aceb-044917834c8b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.83026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d42a023-bad8-466a-9dcc-657021930c47","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75e82afd-0e62-4b68-8349-57525ce4fcfa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The underground cavity is at least 40 meters wide, and its full extent is still being explored.

[{"selector":"#anim-e14f89dd-de00-4516-a423-8b6cea8efd93","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.72026%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d8d6d72-40ed-4fa4-b1f4-070fa3ee888d","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9716aaa4-535c-4e38-8a44-3048b2734ff4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-db17185f-427f-4e03-a64c-a75d70aa09f1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Future landings may explore more lunar caves, especially near the moon's south pole, where frozen water could be found! Learn more