- Lava tubes are common on Earth, And there is evidence of that on Mars and the Moon.
- But now new evidence of lava tubes has been found on Venus. Italian researchers have discovered what appears to be a lava tube in old data from NASA’s Magellan mission.
- Lava tubes in the Mt Nix area, It is wider and taller than any lava tube on Earth.
New evidence of lava tubes on Venus
There are many volcanoes on the surfaces of Earth and Mars. It’s also underground lava tubeformed by magma moving underground. And Venus has a large number of volcanoes, which may still be active. So, are there lava tubes on Venus? Researchers from the University of Trento in Italy have announced evidence of the first lava tube on Venus. they are said On February 9, 2026, the lava tube was found to be wider and taller than any lava tube on Earth or predicted to exist on Mars.
Researchers found evidence of lava tubes in previous NASA data. magellan Mission to Venus.
Here are the findings: previous research This study is the first to identify potential lava tubes on Venus, based on an analysis of the pit layout of Venus’s largest volcano.
Scientists first reported a known lava tube in 2024 on the moon. There is also evidence of lava tubes and caves. on mars.
nature communications published new peer reviewed Results for February 9, 2026.
The existence of lava tubes on Venus has long been hypothesized, but has never been confirmed. A paper in Nature Communications suggests the existence of lava tubes in the Nix Mountain region. go.nature.com/4kwxJ20 ? ?
— Nature Portfolio (@natureportfolio.nature.com) 2026-02-12T20:02:01.521Z
“With the available data, we can only confirm and measure the cavity part close to the skylight,” said Dr. Lorenzo Bruzzone. www.labroots.com/trending/spa…
— Labroots Space and Astronomy (@space-lr.bsky.social) 2026-02-10T23:41:47.718Z
Lava tube hidden in old radar data
Researchers found evidence of lava tubes in old NASA radar data. magellan The mission to Venus ended in 1994. Magellan is synthetic aperture radar An instrument for mapping the entire surface of Venus. The researchers used radar because the surface of Venus is completely hidden by dense clouds and fog.
Lorenzo Bruzzone I am a research coordinator at the University of Trento. he said:
We analyzed radar images of Magellan for signs of localized surface collapse using imaging techniques we developed to detect and characterize underground conduits near skylights. Our analysis reveals the presence of a large underground conduit in the Mount Nix region, an area named after the Greek goddess of the night. We interpret this structure as a possible lava tube with an estimated diameter of about 1 kilometer. [3,280 feet]the roof thickness is at least 150 meters [492 feet] and an empty space more than 375 meters deep. [1,230 feet].
A skylight is a hole in the ceiling of a lava tube that opens toward the surface above.
Larger than any lava tube on Earth
Mount Nix’s lava tubes are wider and taller than typical lava tubes on Earth. This may be primarily due to Venus’ lower gravity and denser atmosphere. As the researchers pointed out, this would be advantageous for the lava flow to quickly generate a thick insulating crust over the lava tube immediately after exiting the vent. They estimate that the lava tube could extend at least 28 miles (45 kilometers). Bruzzone explained:
Due to the available data, it is possible to check and measure only the cavity part close to the skylight. However, analysis of the morphology and elevation of the surrounding terrain, together with the presence of other holes similar to the studied hole, supports the hypothesis that the underground waterway may extend for at least 45 kilometers. Testing this hypothesis and identifying additional lava tubes will require new high-resolution images and data obtained by surface-penetrating radar systems.
Testing theories about Venus’ volcanic activity
The discovery of lava tubes on Venus will help test current theories about Venus’ volcanism. Mr. Blouson said:
Our knowledge of Venus is still limited, and until now we have not had the opportunity to directly observe the processes occurring beneath the surface of Earth’s twin planet. The identification of volcanic cavities is therefore particularly important, as it allows us to test theories whose existence was only hypothesized for many years.
Future missions to Venus will also be able to study this and other lava tubes in more detail. Mr. Blouson said:
The results of this study are therefore of great importance for future exploration of Venus, such as by the European Space Agency. imagine and NASA’s veritas. Both spacecraft carry advanced radar systems that can capture high-resolution images, allowing scientists to study tiny holes in the Earth’s surface in more detail. In addition, Envision will carry an orbital ground-penetrating radar that can probe Venus’s subsurface to depths of hundreds of meters and potentially detect conduits even in the absence of surface openings. Our findings are therefore only the beginning of a long and interesting research effort.
Conclusion: Italian researchers have found new evidence of lava tubes beneath Venus. They discovered it in old radar data from NASA’s Magellan mission to Venus.
Source: Radar observations of lava tubes on Venus
Read more: First lunar lava tube discovered by NASA’s lunar orbiter