Massive Venus Lava Tube Detected Using Magellan Spacecraft Data

Italian researchers uncover first solid evidence of a large subsurface lava tube on Venus using data from NASA's long-defunct Magellan mission.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Data from NASA's Magellan radar-imaging mission to Venus has enabled Italian researchers to detect the first solid evidence of a massive subsurface lava tube on the Western flank of Venus' Nyx Mons shield volcano. The lava tube, formed by ancient volcanism, is estimated to be over 300 meters long, 525 meters deep, and 375 meters high, with a 150-meter thick roof.

Why it matters

This discovery provides new insights into Venus' geological evolution and confirms that the planet hosts extensive subsurface cave networks, similar to those found on Earth, Mars, and the Moon. Future Venus missions with advanced radar systems will be able to study these lava tubes in greater detail, furthering our understanding of the planet's internal structure and volcanic activity.

The details

The researchers used a new analysis technique to tease out data from Magellan's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), revealing the existence of a massive open skylight above the large subsurface lava tube. Lava tubes form within basaltic lava flows, where low-density lava continues to move beneath a solidifying surface. The detected Venus lava tube is wider and taller than those seen on Earth or predicted for Mars, falling at the upper end of what has been observed on the Moon.

  • NASA's Magellan spacecraft mapped 98% of Venus' surface using radar imagery from 1990 to 1994.
  • The new study detailing the discovery of the massive Venus lava tube was published in the journal Nature Communications in 2026.

The players

Lorenzo Bruzzone

A radar and remote sensing scientist at the University of Trento in Italy and a co-author of the study.

Leonardo Carrer

The lead author of the study and a radar and remote sensing scientist at the University of Trento in Italy.

Stephen Kane

A planetary astrophysicist at the University of California, Riverside who was not part of the study.

NASA's Magellan spacecraft

The first orbital mission to map almost the whole of Venus' surface using radar imagery from 1990 to 1994.

University of Trento

The institution where the researchers who conducted the study are based.

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What they’re saying

“Before now we have never had the opportunity to directly observe processes occurring beneath the surface of Earth's twin planet.”

— Leonardo Carrer, Lead author of the study (Nature Communications)

“This is further evidence that our sibling planet is geologically alive and well, and that the planet is continuing to interact with and build its already massive atmosphere.”

— Stephen Kane (Email)

What’s next

Future Venus missions planned for the next decade, such as the European Space Agency's Envision and NASA's Veritas, will carry advanced radar systems capable of capturing high-resolution images and probing the planet's subsurface to study these lava tubes in greater detail.

The takeaway

The discovery of this massive Venus lava tube provides new insights into the geological evolution of Earth's twin planet and confirms that Venus hosts an extensive network of ancient subsurface cave systems, similar to those found on other terrestrial bodies in our solar system.