UCLA Finds 17°C Lunar Pits Could Shelter Future Moon Habitats

1 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Aug 16

Protected zones in some lunar pits stay near 17°C with little variation, a UCLA-led study found, identifying a far milder environment than the Moon’s exposed surface for possible habitats.
Diviner data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter showed shaded pit areas remain warmer at night, while simulations predicted attached caves could hold roughly 290 kelvin year-round through radiative heat exchange.
The result does not prove a safe, habitable cave already exists: the 17°C interior is a modelled value, not a direct measurement, and only permanently shaded sections—not entire pits—appear thermally stable.
Exposed lunar ground can swing from about 127°C in the two-week day to minus 173°C at night, so underground shelter could cut thermal stress and also help block radiation, micrometeorites and dust.
Any base plan still hinges on robotic inspection of candidate pits—likely ancient lava-tube skylights—to map voids, test stability and determine whether equipment and crews could realistically access them.