Chinese scientists have discovered fresh evidence of landslides on the moon caused by internal seismic activity, offering new insights into lunar geology. Published in the National Science Review, the study reveals these landslides formed after 2009 and were primarily driven by "endogenic moonquakes" rather than asteroid collisions.
Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University analyzed high-resolution lunar images, identifying shallow, small-scale landslides displacing less than 100,000 cubic meters of material. Most measure under 1 kilometer in length and 100 meters in width. While impact craters were observed nearby, fewer than 30% of landslides correlated with these events.
The findings highlight spatial clustering of landslides in the Imbrium Basin’s eastern region, suggesting uneven distribution of active seismic zones within the moon. This discovery provides a roadmap for future seismometer placements to study the moon’s internal structure—a critical step for both scientific research and planned lunar exploration missions.
"This research reshapes our understanding of lunar seismic activity," the team noted, emphasizing its potential to inform safer site selections for lunar bases and resource utilization strategies.
