SMRTR Science & EngineeringFeb 23, 2026Science News

Venus has a massive lava tube

SMRTR summary

Scientists discovered the first lava tube on Venus by reanalyzing 1990s radar data from NASA's Magellan probe, revealing a collapsed skylight that opens into an underground tunnel near the Nyx Mons volcano. The lava tube extends at least 375 meters deep and could be up to one kilometer wide, making it comparable to lunar lava tubes and larger than those on Earth or Mars. This discovery helps explain Venus's geological evolution and provides insights for upcoming NASA and European Space Agency missions planned for 2031.

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