Cave on the Moon Confirmed

16 Jul 2024

A team of Italian scientists has confirmed the presence of caves on the surface of the moon

About the Cave

  • Location: The cave is located at the Sea of Tranquility, just 250 miles (400 kilometers) from Apollo 11’s landing site (not far from the landing site of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin) and is accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon
    • Moon’s ancient lava plains host most of the pits with some present at the moon’s south pole also.
  • Data Source: Researchers analyzed radar measurements by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and compared the results with lava tubes on Earth. 
    • The radar data reveals only the initial part of the underground cavity and estimates the cave to be at least 130 feet (40 meters) wide and tens of yards (meters) long.
  • Published In: The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
  • Process: The pit was created by the collapse of a lava tube.
    • Pits were first discovered on the Moon in 2009 and an estimate 16 of the more than 200 pits are probably collapsed lava tubes

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

  • Significance of the Findings:
    • The results of analysis suggest the presence of hundreds of pits on the moon and thousands of lava tubes. 
    • Natural Shelters: Such places could serve as a natural shelter for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays and solar radiation as well as from micrometeorite strikes.
    • Cost effective habitat option: Building habitats from scratch would be more time-consuming and challenging, even when factoring in the potential need of reinforcing the cave walls to prevent a collapse.
    • Thermally Stable Site: The pits, and caves would make thermally stable sites (about 17OC) for lunar exploration compared to areas at the Moon’s surface, which heat up to 1270C and cool to minus 1730C at night.
    • Understanding of Moon’s Evolution: Rocks and other material inside these caves are unaltered by the harsh surface conditions over the eons which will help scientists better understand the evolution of the moon, especially involving its volcanic activity.

 Cave

About Lava Tubes

  • Lava tubes are formed in the presence of volcanic eruptions, where flowing lava cools down and crusts on the surface. This crust insulated the flowing lava inside, allowing it to flow for great distances before solidifying.
    • Over time, these tubes may collapse due to seismic activity or impact events, creating a chain of pits and holes known as “skylights” extending away from the volcanic features.
  • Found: Lava Tubes Pits have been observed throughout the Solar System, including the Moon, Mars, and Mercury which are similar to lava tubes on Earth.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

NASA’s LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

  • Launch: It was launched in 2009 initially for 2 years but is continuing  to orbit the Moon.
    • LRO was NASA’s first lunar orbiter since Lunar Prospector in 1998.
  • Primary Goal: LRO created a 3D map of the Moon, as part of a program to identify future landing sites and resources including deposits of water ice shadowed in polar craters.
  • THe LRO has found new life as a forward scout for the Artemis program, NASA’s project to return humans to the moon’s surface

 

Must Read
UPSC Daily Editorials UPSC Daily Current Affairs
Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store 
Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store UPSC Test Series 2024
Daily Current Affairs Quiz Daily Main Answer Writing
Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store

 

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

# #
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.