Entrance Found to Underground Lunar Tunnel

Posted by Minnesotastan in Science & Tech on October 28, 2009 at 5:45 pm


Hole on lunar surfaceIt has long been suspected that there are underground tunnels and caverns on the moon, presumably the residua of lava tubes.  Now a group of scientists led by Junichi Haruyama of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency are reporting the discovery of a “skylight” leading into an underground cavern.

The hole measures 65 metres across, and based on images taken at a variety of sun angles, the hole is thought to extend down at least 80 metres. It sits in the middle of a rille, suggesting the hole leads into a lava tube as wide as 370 metres across… Since the tubes may be hundreds of metres wide, they could provide plenty of space for an underground lunar outpost. The tubes’ ceilings could protect astronauts from space radiation, meteoroid impacts and wild temperature fluctuations…

This is reminiscent of the “doorway” found on Mars several years ago, but this discovery seems to be more clearly defined.  More details at New Scientist, via NAACAL.


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COMMENT

9 comments to "Entrance Found to Underground Lunar Tunnel"

  1. Claude Vorillon
    October 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    It is obvious that Sand Worms are/were there...

    U.F.O's. are really Fish...

    Here Fishy, fishy fish! Find the Fish (The meaning of Life.).

    Tee-hee. ;P

    P.s. - Look into Mongolia.

  2. Ericstifer
    October 28th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    maybt this is a reason to finally GO BACK to the moon! and explore this cave!

  3. SenorMysterioso
    October 28th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    look out theyre forming the quad-laser

  4. Alex
    October 28th, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    So nice of the aliens to surround it with white fence so we can find the hole :)

  5. Skipweasel
    October 29th, 2009 at 1:33 am

    Any sign of the Soup Dragon?

  6. b°b
    October 29th, 2009 at 2:49 am

    More like the 'dark spots' on mars: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070528.html

  7. alan smithee
    October 29th, 2009 at 7:26 am

    Why did it take so long to find? Didn't anyone notice that big dashed box around it?

  8. Lasse
    October 30th, 2009 at 6:33 am

    After 10.000 years of civilization we are right back where we started: In the caves.

  9. Jezebel
    October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 am

    That hole is black, black, black, black, black!


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