A new NASA study reveals a higher possibility for humans to live on the lunar surface. As per scientists, some Moon pits have temperatures that are comfortable for human habitation.
Moon pits pave way for human life on the lunar surface
NASA has confirmed finding pits on the Moon which can be used as shelters by astronauts during lunar exploration.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a NASA spacecraft revealed that pits on the Moon’s surface have a comfortable temperature of 63 F. The discovery has been made by NASA-funded scientists who used data from the LRO. NASA first discovered these caves in 2009. Following the discovery, scientists are trying to understand if they can be used as shelters.
What does the study reveal?
NASA revealed that the Moon pits are capable of offering some protection from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorites.
“Scientists used computer modeling to analyze the thermal properties of the rock and lunar dust and to understand the pit’s temperatures over time,” stated NASA.
According to it, the temperatures within the permanently shadowed regions of the pit fluctuate only slightly throughout the lunar day. It remains at around 63 F (or 17 C). This means that a nearside pit crater in the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility is at room temperatures (68-72 F).
“About 16 of the more than 200 pits are probably collapsed lava tubes,” quoted Tyler Horvath as per the NASA website. Horvath is a doctoral student of planetary science at the University of California in Los Angeles. He led the study recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
“Lunar pits are a fascinating feature on the lunar surface. Knowing that they create a stable thermal environment helps us paint a picture of these unique lunar features and the prospect of one day exploring them,” stated Noah Petro. Petro is an LRO Project Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“Humans evolved living in caves, and to caves, we might return when we live on the Moon,” added David Paige. Paige is a co-author of the study, Additionally, he is leading the Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment aboard LRO responsible for the data.
