Mysterious "doors" to lunar cave could unlock secrets of Moon's past
Scientists report the discovery of mysterious "entrance doors" to a massive cave on the Moon. These could help better understand the volcanic processes occurring on the Silver Globe.
– We found a sort of front door to enter the subsurface, said Leonardo Carrer, the study's lead author from the University of Trento in Italy. The scientist notes that access to the Earth's satellite's interior is an interesting place for future robotic explorations. At the same time, the "doors" on the Moon are expected to provide a wealth of information about the volcanism of the Silver Globe.
"Doors" to the Moon's interior
Scientists have long suspected that the Moon is full of volcanic formations, including lava tunnels. Similar places are also found on Earth. So far, over 200 pits have been identified on the Moon, where rocks and regolith have collapsed to unknown depths.
Research conducted by Leonardo Carrer indicates that one of these pits in the Mare Tranquillitatis region has collapsed and formed an underground cave channel, which can be accessed from the Moon's surface.
Caves on the Silver Globe, i.e., surface collapses, are valuable evidence for scientists that confirm the existence of lava tunnels. These are the most compelling formations alongside lunar pits and elliptical craters. Therefore, Carrer decided to investigate more closely with his team what the newly discovered "doors" on the Moon are hiding.
Along with Lorenzo Bruzzone, he decided to attempt mapping the hidden cave using orbital synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments, reports Live Science. The SAR data was used by scientists to create three-dimensional reconstructions of two Earth caves near their entrances.
It reaches a depth of up to 175 metres
– We could detect from this pit…a reflection that clearly proved an opening on the bottom and the entrance of a cave, which probably is a part of a lava tube, explains Bruzzone. Using a special computer model determined that the entrance to the Moon is at least 45 metres wide and reaches a depth of 135-175 metres beneath the Moon's surface.
– [This] analysis certainly indicates that there’s a passage that goes deeper than we’ve been able to see with visible-wavelength images, believes Robert Wagner, another scientist participating in the study from Arizona State University in Tampa. The next step the scientists want to take following the discovery is to send a mission to the new "doors" on the Moon to enter and directly study the cave's interior.
Carrer and Bruzzone—as reported by Live Science—are excited about uncovering the Moon's geological history. The cave mentioned could significantly aid them in this effort. Scientists believe that inside the cave and on rocks shielded from erosion and changes caused by the solar wind, they might find what is crucial for their scientific work.
– Studying the rocks there, since they are pristine rocks not altered by the harsh surface, could give a lot of insight about the lunar volcanism and the history of volcanism on the Moon, believes Carrer. The scientist also does not rule out that further studies might uncover an intact lava tube, where lunar magma once moved and settled.
