QuickCheck: Is it true that caves exist on the moon?

GIVEN that temperatures can hit some rather unpleasant extremes on the moon - heating up to 120°C when the sun hits its surface and freezing over at -170°C when the sun "goes down"- any human visiting our nearest celestial neighbour would need more hospitable refuge.

Is it true there are natural caves on the moon where astronauts can go when shelter is needed?

Verdict:

TRUE

Images from Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that the moon has caves, also called pits. Part of these lunar pits - caves and collapsed lava tubes - are thermally stable sites, resting at a constant 17°C, a far cry from the extreme temperatures on the moon's surface.

The moon's temperature varies this much because unlike earth, it has no significant atmosphere to trap heat at night or block the sun's rays during the day.

These caves would also offer some protection from solar radiation and cosmic rays capable of damaging the body's cellular structure in potentially fatal ways.

Ultimately, the discovery of these caves is an exciting one as they could be potential bases for further exploration.

So when Major Tom and friends call earth to say “gimme shelter”, Mission Control just has to be their Waze and point them in the right direction.

References:

https://www.space.com/18175-moon-temperature.html

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/lro-lunar-pits-comfortable

https://www.ndtv.com/science/nasa-finds-thermally-stable-pits-on-moon-they-may-pave-way-for-expanding-human-presence-3198427