An Italian-led team of scientists say they have confirmed evidence of a sizable cave on the moon not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.
An Italian-led team has discovered a sizable cave on the moon near the Apollo 11 landing site, formed by the collapse of a lava tube, with potential to house future astronauts.
Radar images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate the Mare Tranquillitatis pit (MTP) leads to a subsurface cave, offering protection from the moon’s harsh environment and supporting long-term human exploration.
The cave, at least 130 feet wide and tens of yards long, is one of potentially hundreds on the moon that could provide natural shelter from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorite strikes.
The U.S. plans to return a crew to the lunar surface by the end of 2025, targeting the moon’s South Pole, where frozen water in permanently shadowed craters could support sustainable habitats.
