Mysterious ‘Hole’ on the Flank of an Ancient Volcano on Mars Could Shelter Humans: Research
A recent discovery on Mars has generated significant excitement among planetary scientists and space exploration enthusiasts. A mysterious pit crater, imaged by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on August 15, 2022, offers intriguing possibilities for future human exploration of the Red Planet. Located on a lava flow of the extinct volcano Arsia Mons, this pit could potentially provide a sheltered environment for astronauts and even hypothetical Martian life. A Window into the Red Planet's Subsurface The pit, which measures only a few meters across, was captured by the orbiter from about 159 miles (256 kilometers) above Mars' surface. It is one of many similar pits found on the flanks of a trio of large volcanoes in the Tharsis region. Scientists are eager to determine whether this pit leads to a larger cavern or is merely a narrow, vertical shaft. The formation of such pits is often linked to volcanic activity, where underground lava tubes form as the volc...
