A study in Nature Astronomy reports the discovery of an underground tunnel on the Moon’s surface within Mare Tranquillitatis Pit
Lunar pits form after volcanic eruptions, with walls collapsing to expose interior tunnels.
Volcanic activity on the Moon dates back 4.2 billion years, with most activity occurring between 3.8 and 3 billion years ago.
The study used side-looking radar imaging to analyze MTP, revealing increased radar brightness linked to an underground tunnel.
The tunnel was found to be 130-170 meters deep, 30-80 meters long, and about 45 meters wide.
Inside these tunnels, stable ambient temperatures of around 17°C provide a habitable environment compared to the Moon’s surface.
Upcoming missions like NASA’s Artemis-2 and ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4 plan to explore and potentially utilize these lunar features.