Moonquakes drive most new lunar landslides since 2009

Moonquakes drive most new lunar landslides since 2009
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 30, 2025

A Chinese-led research team has identified 41 new landslides on the Moon since 2009, concluding that endogenic moonquakes, not fresh impacts, are the primary trigger. The finding redefines understanding of active surface processes and highlights geohazard risks for future lunar bases.

For decades, scientists debated whether lunar landslides stem mainly from internal seismic activity, impacts, or thermal rock breakdown. By analyzing 562 pairs of high-resolution images covering 74 globally distributed sites, Professor Zhiyong Xiao of Sun Yat-sen University and colleagues found most recent slope failures lacked any connection to impacts or exposed rocks.

The study revealed that only 29 percent of new landslides could be linked to impacts, despite more than 2000 fresh craters being documented since 2009. Even large recent impacts up to 75 meters wide failed to trigger slope collapses, underscoring the limited role of new impacts. Instead, 71 percent of the landslides can only be explained by internal seismic activity, consistent with the presence of molten regions within the Moon.

These small-scale landslides, typically under 1 kilometer long and less than 1 meter thick, cluster in the eastern Imbrium Basin-a region already known for shallow moonquakes recorded by Apollo seismometers. This pattern suggests the basin remains a seismically active zone and should be prioritized for future geophysical studies.

"Worldwide lunar exploration is accelerating, with plans for permanent research stations and deep-space outposts," said Xiao. "Understanding today's landslide activity and its drivers is essential for assessing geohazard risks to these future missions."

The researchers argue that landslide distribution could act as a proxy for mapping hidden seismic zones, reducing reliance on widespread seismometer deployment. They caution against constructing slope-adjacent facilities in areas such as the Imbrium Basin but emphasize that while the geohazard risk is localized, it must be factored into site selection for future infrastructure.

"Our work reminds us the Moon is not a static, dead world-besides abundant new impacts, landslide is active today," Xiao added. "These insights bridge a gap between past lunar history and present-day processes, advancing both science and mission planning."

Research Report:Active landslides on the Moon