Japan says lunar chasm measuring 50km long and 100 metres wide could be used as a base for astronauts and their equipmentScientists have fantasised for centuries about humans colonising the moon. The discovery, by Japan’s Selenological and Engineering Explorer (Selene) probe, comes as several countries vie to follow the US in sending manned missions to the moon. Using a radar sounder system that can examine underground structures, the orbiter initially found an opening 50 metres wide and 50 metres deep, prompting speculation that there could be a larger hollow. The discovery will boost plans by several countries to send astronauts to the moon almost half a century after the Apollo 11 mission. This article was amended on 19 October to correct the length of the cave, which is 50km not 500km

Source: The Guardian October 19, 2017 08:25 UTC