Space scientists discover cave on moon that could shelter astronauts

An Italian-led research team announced Monday that they’ve found evidence of a sizable cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon, located in the Sea of Tranquility, roughly 250 miles (400 kilometers) from the Apollo 11 landing site, ABC News reported.

This pit, along with over 200 others discovered on the moon, was formed by the collapse of a lava tube.

According to the scientists, the radar data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter only shows the initial part of the underground cavity. They estimate it is at least 130 feet (40 meters) wide and several tens of yards (meters) long, potentially more.

These findings indicate there could be hundreds of pits and thousands of lava tubes on the moon. Such locations could provide natural shelters for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorite impacts.