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Lunar lava tubes are sub-surface tunnels on the Moon that are believed to have formed during basaltic lava flows. When the surface of a lava tube cools, it forms a hardened lid that contains the ongoing lava flow beneath the surface in a conduit-shaped passage. Once the flow of lava diminishes, the tunnel may become drained, forming a hollow void. Lunar lava tubes are formed on surfaces that have a slope that ranges in angle from 0.4–6.5°.〔 Lunar lava tubes may be as wide as before they become unstable against gravitational collapse. However, stable tubes may still be disrupted by seismic events or meteoroid bombardment.〔 One such area containing lava tubes and rilles is the Marius Hills region.〔 In 2008, an opening to such a lava tube in this area may have been discovered by the Japanese Kaguya spacecraft.〔 The Hadley Rille may have been a partly roofed lava channel, some parts of which have since collapsed.〔 There may also be lava tubes in the Mare Serenitatis.〔〔〔〔 Lunar lava tubes may potentially serve a role as enclosures for human habitats. Tunnels larger than in diameter may exist, lying under or more of basalt with a stable temperature of .〔 These natural tunnels provide protection from cosmic ray radiation, meteorites, micrometeorites, and ejecta from impacts. They are shielded from the variations in temperature at the lunar surface, which would provide a stable environment for inhabitants.〔 Lunar lava tubes are typically found along the boundaries between lunar mares and highland regions. This would give ready access to elevated regions for communications, basaltic plains for landing sites and regolith harvesting, as well as underground mineral resources.〔 ==See also== * Martian lava tubes * Rille 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lunar lava tube」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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