Discovery of 50km cave raises hopes for human colonisation of moon

Japan says lunar chasm measuring 50km long and 100 metres wide could be used as a base for astronauts and their equipment

Scientists have fantasised for centuries about humans colonising the moon. That day may have drawn a little closer after Japan's space agency said it had discovered an enormous cave beneath the lunar surface that could be turned into an exploration base for astronauts.

The discovery, by Japan's Selenological and Engineering Explorer (Selene) probe, comes as several countries vie to follow the US in sending manned missions to the moon.