Scientists have confirmed the existence of a volcanic cave on Venus, a discovery based on the re-analysis of data collected by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft between 1990 and 1992. The finding, published Monday, February 9, in Nature Communications, marks the first confirmed subterranean void on the planet and offers new insights into Venus’s geological history.
The research, led by investigators at the University of Trento in Italy and funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), identified the cave within the volcanic region of Montes Nyx. Researchers focused on an area exhibiting evidence of surface collapse, indicating a void beneath. Advanced imaging techniques allowed them to reconstruct the geometry of the subterranean structure from the visible depression, according to Lorenzo Bruzzone, coordinator of the research and director of the Remote Sensing Laboratory at the University of Trento.
“The identification of a volcanic cavity is of particular importance because it allows us to validate theories that for many years were only hypotheses,” Bruzzone stated.
The analysis indicates a lava tube approximately one kilometer in diameter, with a roof at least 150 meters thick and an internal void extending at least 375 meters deep. These dimensions place the structure among the largest identified in the solar system, exceeding most terrestrial lava tubes and approaching the upper limit predicted for lunar formations.
Venus’s unique physical conditions – lower gravity than Earth and an extremely dense atmosphere – contribute to the scale of the cave. These conditions promote the rapid formation of a solid crust over flowing lava, allowing molten material to continue flowing underneath and creating wider, more stable conduits. The presence of such structures supports the idea that Venus has experienced, and potentially continues to experience, intense and prolonged volcanic activity.
While the data confirms the portion of the cave near the visible skylight, the terrain’s morphology and the presence of similar depressions suggest the subterranean system could extend up to 45 kilometers. Confirmation of this extent will require further observation from upcoming missions, including the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Envision and NASA’s Veritas, both equipped with advanced radar capable of probing the Venusian subsurface with greater precision. According to NASA, Magellan was the first interplanetary mission to be launched from the Space Shuttle, beginning its mission on May 4, 1989.
The Magellan spacecraft, launched in 1989, was designed to map the surface of Venus using synthetic aperture radar. It successfully imaged approximately 98% of the planet’s surface, providing a detailed understanding of its geological features. The probe operated for over four years, ultimately being deorbited on October 13, 1994, after intentionally plunging into the Venusian atmosphere. The mission’s data continues to be analyzed and re-analyzed, yielding new discoveries like this volcanic cave.
Beyond deepening our understanding of Venus’s geological evolution, the discovery redefines the possibilities for researching one of the solar system’s most enigmatic planets. “This result opens new perspectives for the study of the planet,” Bruzzone concluded.