Discovery of 50km cave raises hopes for human colonization of moon

Guardian ^ | Thursday 19 October 2017 04.25 EDT | Justin McCurry

[DCBryan1]

Japan says lunar chasm measuring 50km long and 100 metres wide could be used as a base for astronauts and their equipment.

Scientists have fantasised for centuries about humans colonising the moon. That day may have drawn a little closer after Japan’s space agency said it had discovered an enormous cave beneath the lunar surface that could be turned into an exploration base for astronauts.

The discovery, by Japan’s Selenological and Engineering Explorer (Selene) probe, comes as several countries vie to follow the US in sending manned missions to the moon.

Using a radar sounder system that can examine underground structures, the orbiter initially found an opening 50 metres wide and 50 metres deep, prompting speculation that there could be a larger hollow.

[DCBryan1]

They need a better telescope, then they would find out what is causing the cave formation:

[C19fan]

Attilan? [Marvel Inhumans reference]

[stars & stripes forever]

LOL

[dfwgator]

[Vic S]

Maybe the Moon really is hollow.

[Red Badger]

I had a big dog once that dug a hole in the front yard overnight big enough to bury him in!.......I have no idea what he was digging for.................

[wally_bert]

Hopefully nobody will store nuclear waste there.

[Artemis Webb]

Bookmark

[NorthMountain]

The world is hollow, and I have touched the sky.

[wally_bert]

A location for Harmony after all.

It’s in the new audio dramas of The Prisoner that’s rather good. Same title as the original “Living In Harmony”. A moonbase instead of a wild west town.

[Moonman62]

Maybe it was a bed to keep him cool/warm and safe.

[Big Red Badger]

“Bang !..Zoom!”

[robroys woman]

First we’d have to kick out the aliens that built it. :)

[C19fan]

Space 1999 ping.

[DCBryan1]

Heh:

It's Alice Kramden!"

If you're too young to get this joke, Alice Kramden, a character on the 1950s sitcom "The Honeymooners," had a husband, Ralph, famous for repeatedly threatening to hit her: "One of these days, Alice! bang, zoom, straight to the moon!"

[djf]

That’s a great pic!!!

[DCBryan1]

Space 1999

[Vlad The Inhaler]

Scientists have fantasised for centuries about humans colonising the moon.

Because there is dso much to do there, they have a great growing season and the soil is so fertile.

And there are no democrats.

[Red Badger]

No, he was actively digging all night.

I came out to go to work that morning and here was this huge hole, at least four feet deep and just as wide.

And there he was in the hole still digging, looked up at me, wagging his tail, like, “Hi! See what I did?”................

[Vlad The Inhaler]