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Nathan Tuggy
Nathan Tuggy
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Constant lunar sub surface-surface temperature

On earthEarth we have the idea of constant ground temperature. Builders in northNorth America think of it as 55 degrees at 5 feet down. (not quite true, but close enough). At the surface it varies with the day. A little deeper and it averages the week. The deeper you go, the more it lags behind until you get to 30 feet where it is constant, roughly equal to the annual average of the area.

In considering an underground lunar settlement, the constant ground temperature in the first 60 meters or so, where you might tunnel is a really relevant. Since the lunar day is so long and the temperature varies so much, one would think the depth at which constant temperature occurs would be deeper than earth. But maybe soil in a vacuum transmits heat less? I think it would probably vary a lot by latitude as well. The thought of having an underground settlement where the ground temperature is naturally comfortable to people is fascinating.

Do we know what the constant lunar underground temperature is? And at what depth it stabilizes? Is there any place on the moon where it might be in the 40˚ to 80˚f80˚F range?

Constant lunar sub surface temperature

On earth we have the idea of constant ground temperature. Builders in north America think of it as 55 degrees at 5 feet down. (not quite true, but close enough) At the surface it varies with the day. A little deeper and it averages the week. The deeper you go, the more it lags behind until you get to 30 feet where it is constant, roughly equal to the annual average of the area.

In considering an underground lunar settlement, the constant ground temperature in the first 60 meters or so, where you might tunnel is a really relevant. Since the lunar day is so long and the temperature varies so much, one would think the depth at which constant temperature occurs would be deeper than earth. But maybe soil in a vacuum transmits heat less? I think it would probably vary a lot by latitude as well. The thought of having an underground settlement where the ground temperature is naturally comfortable to people is fascinating.

Do we know what the constant lunar underground temperature is? And at what depth it stabilizes? Is there any place on the moon where it might be in the 40˚ to 80˚f range?

Constant lunar sub-surface temperature

On Earth we have the idea of constant ground temperature. Builders in North America think of it as 55 degrees at 5 feet down (not quite true, but close enough). At the surface it varies with the day. A little deeper and it averages the week. The deeper you go, the more it lags behind until you get to 30 feet where it is constant, roughly equal to the annual average of the area.

In considering an underground lunar settlement, the constant ground temperature in the first 60 meters or so, where you might tunnel is a really relevant. Since the lunar day is so long and the temperature varies so much, one would think the depth at which constant temperature occurs would be deeper than earth. But maybe soil in a vacuum transmits heat less? I think it would probably vary a lot by latitude as well. The thought of having an underground settlement where the ground temperature is naturally comfortable to people is fascinating.

Do we know what the constant lunar underground temperature is? And at what depth it stabilizes? Is there any place on the moon where it might be in the 40˚ to 80˚F range?

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Johnny Robinson
Johnny Robinson
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Constant lunar sub surface temperature

On earth we have the idea of constant ground temperature. Builders in north America think of it as 55 degrees at 5 feet down. (not quite true, but close enough) At the surface it varies with the day. A little deeper and it averages the week. The deeper you go, the more it lags behind until you get to 30 feet where it is constant, roughly equal to the annual average of the area.

In considering an underground lunar settlement, the constant ground temperature in the first 60 meters or so, where you might tunnel is a really relevant. Since the lunar day is so long and the temperature varies so much, one would think the depth at which constant temperature occurs would be deeper than earth. But maybe soil in a vacuum transmits heat less? I think it would probably vary a lot by latitude as well. The thought of having an underground settlement where the ground temperature is naturally comfortable to people is fascinating.

Do we know what the constant lunar underground temperature is? And at what depth it stabilizes? Is there any place on the moon where it might be in the 40˚ to 80˚f range?