Extraterrestrial Caving - Satellite Imagery, Terrain Data and 3D Models to Plan Your Next Trip to the Moon, Mercury or Mars

Lava tubes and caves are high interest sites to identify and study on the Moon and other planets. They provide clues to the understanding the geology and may be candidates for human habitation as sub-surface living would mitigate effects of radiation, temperature differentials and impacts.

This presentation introduces sources of imagery and terrain data that are being used to search for caves. 

 

Depending on interest, we may look at deep pits on Mercury, lava tubes on the Moon, or sites like these on Mars:

If you let us know your favourite sites ahead of time from this data set, we'll have them ready to check out:

 

We will share how the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is planning robotic exploration with rovers, and how the ASS is involved. 

 

Hat tip to Chris S for the link to the Mars Cave Candidate Catalog. https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mars/MarsCaveCatalog/mars_cave_catalog

 

event link: https://meet.jit.si/abspeleo