BULLETIN

Lunar pits are a pleasant temperature

The shady bottoms of lunar pits remain at a comfortable 17°C no matter the time of day or night, according to recent observations from the Lunar Reconnaissance orbiter (LRO), a finding that potentially earmarks them as sites for future lunar bases.

Conversely, most of the lunar surface swings wildly between two extremes. During the 15 days of lunar sunshine, surface temperatures can reach as high as 127°C, only to drop to –173°C during the lunar night.

“Lunar pits are a fascinating feature on the lunar surface,” says LRO project scientist Noah Petro from the Goddard Space Flight Center. “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.”

The pits were first discovered in 2009 by the Japanese Kaguya orbiter and were soon touted as potential sites for a human base, offering protection from cosmic radiation and micrometeorites. Now knowing that they also set the thermostat to room temperature, they seem an even better candidate. www.lroc.asu.edu