The temperature on the Moon can vary from boiling to freezing between night and day, but scientists believe there may be craters and caves protected at a very reasonable temperature.
In such spots, the temperature hovers around 17 degrees Celsius, according to new calculations. And they could be ideal locations to set up base camps for exploring the rest of the moon’s surface.
It may also provide some protection against small meteors and even harmful solar radiation from the sun. With a comfortable base, future lunar settlers can focus on other endeavours – such as growing crops for food or doing research.
“Humans evolved while living in caves, and we may go back to caves when we live on the moon,” says planetary scientist David Page of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
We have known about craters on the moon for several years. The researchers used images captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) – specifically the Diviner’s Lunar Radiometer Experiment Thermal Camera – to try to measure the temperature inside a crater on the moon.