Researchers have discovered a massive underground lava tube on Venus, potentially offering insights into the planet’s volcanic history and future exploration possibilities. The finding, published February 10, 2026, in Nature Communications, details a cavern significantly larger than any previously identified on Earth or Mars.
Skylight Reveals Kilometer-Scale Lava Cave
The team utilized a newly developed technique to analyze indications of localized collapses of potential lava tubes and search for such underground channels near skylights. Their analysis revealed a large lava tube in the Venusian subsurface in the region of Nyx Mons, a large shield volcano located around 30 degrees north latitude and surrounded by numerous trenches and chains of circular depressions.
Researchers discovered a significant opening on the volcano’s western flank. This skylight measures 1.5 kilometers in length, just over one kilometer in width, and approximately 450 meters in depth. “Our analyses reveal a large lava tube in the Venusian subsurface in the region of Nyx Mons,” the researchers reported. They interpret this opening as a skylight – a location where the roof of a lava tube has collapsed.
Radar data suggests the lava tube is at least one kilometer wide. “The cave roof is at least 150 meters thick and vaults a cavity that must be at least 375 meters high,” the team stated. The discovery highlights the potential for subsurface environments on Venus to offer protection from the planet’s harsh surface conditions.
Larger Than Lava Tubes on Earth and Mars
The total length of the newly discovered lava tube remains uncertain, but radar signals have penetrated at least 300 meters into the cave. “The radar signal reaches at least 300 meters into the cave,” the team wrote. However, the steep angle of the radar beams limits visibility of how far the tube extends. “Analyses of the surrounding terrain and the presence of further depressions, however, suggest that this underground lava tube extends at least another 45 kilometers,” said senior author Lorenzo Bruzzone.
This makes the Venusian lava cave considerably larger than any previously known lava tubes on Earth or Mars. Researchers attribute this to Venus’s lower gravity and denser atmosphere, which allow lava to form a solidified crust quickly while the molten material continues to flow underneath for an extended period. This process enables the formation of larger lava tubes on Venus.
The researchers believe the discovery of the lava cave at Nyx Mons is just the beginning, suggesting that many more lava tubes may exist on Venus awaiting discovery. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-68643-6)
Source: Università di Trento
10. February 2026 – Nadja Podbregar
