Beijing: A team of Chinese scientists has identified active landslides on the Moon, caused primarily by moonquakes, raising fresh considerations for future lunar exploration and habitation. The findings, published in National Science Review on September 11, mark a significant step in understanding the Moon’s internal dynamics and the risks associated with its surface.
Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, Fuzhou University, and Shanghai Normal University conducted a meticulous analysis of 562 pairs of before-and-after images covering 74 sites in the Moon’s most unstable regions. Since 2009, this effort uncovered 41 new landslides, of which approximately 30% were linked to impact events, such as meteor strikes. The remainder, however, were traced to moonquakes originating from within the lunar body, overturning earlier assumptions that the Moon’s geological activity had long ceased.
“While moonquakes were first detected during the Apollo missions, conventional wisdom suggested that the Moon’s interior had become inert. Our study shows that seismic activity continues to shape the lunar surface,” the researchers highlighted.
As China sets its sights on establishing a research station near the lunar south pole by 2035, these discoveries could influence site selection and construction planning. Unlike earthquakes on Earth, which last seconds to minutes, moonquakes can persist for hours, a duration sufficient to destabilize equipment, tip over structures, and trigger landslides. Such hazards could endanger astronauts and compromise surface operations.
Lead author Xiao Zhiyong emphasized that most landslides observed were relatively small, typically less than 1 km (3,280 feet) long and 100 meters (328 feet) wide. “This provides reassurance that the landslides we observed are likely to have limited impact. Still, caution is warranted, as terrestrial disaster models may not fully apply on the Moon. Operations near steep slopes remain particularly vulnerable,” he said.
The study complements findings from NASA last year, which revealed that the Moon has been gradually shrinking over the past several hundred million years. This contraction has generated faults and fractures, producing the moonquakes that are now linked to the observed landslides. The continued surface shifts are especially pronounced around the lunar south pole, a region of keen interest for upcoming crewed missions such as NASA’s Artemis III.
Understanding the Moon’s seismic behavior is expected to aid both Chinese and international space agencies in planning stable lunar habitats and minimizing risks to astronauts. By mapping the areas most susceptible to landslides, mission planners can identify safer sites, design resilient structures, and anticipate potential hazards, ensuring that humanity’s return to the Moon is both ambitious and safe.
The discovery underscores that even the seemingly static lunar environment is still geologically active, offering scientists fresh opportunities to study the Moon’s evolution while guiding practical considerations for its future exploration.