Decades of Investigation

Search Efforts

Since the 1960s, numerous expeditions have attempted to locate the Moonshaft. Speleologists, researchers, and enthusiasts have explored thousands of caves across Slovakia's mountain ranges.

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Suspected Locations

Lower Tatras (Nízke Tatry)

Most frequently cited location based on Horák's descriptions of terrain and altitude. Extensive limestone cave systems exist here. Multiple expeditions have searched this area.

Extensively searched, ongoing

Slovak Karst (Slovenský kras)

Major karst region with numerous caves and shafts. Some researchers believe Horák's topographical descriptions better match this area than the Lower Tatras.

Partially searched, access restricted in areas

West Tatras

Alternative location proposed by researchers who interpret Horák's account differently. Less explored than other candidate areas.

Limited searches conducted

Muránska planina

Recently identified as potential location based on new analysis of partisan movement patterns. Contains extensive cave systems, many poorly documented.

Recent reconnaissance, detailed search planned

Slovak Paradise (Slovenský raj)

Some local traditions suggest this area, known for dramatic gorges and vertical features. Less favored by researchers due to intensive tourist development and thorough mapping.

Considered unlikely, limited recent activity

Major Expeditions & Research Efforts

June–December 1970

APRO First Expedition Planning (1970)

In June 1970, Donald Richmond, an APRO member and deputy sheriff in Pueblo, presented Horák's account at APRO headquarters in Tucson. APRO began assembling a team (including Theodore Phillips and later Allan Hynek) and prepared to fund a rapid expedition to Czechoslovakia. From August to December 1970 the mission was repeatedly delayed — unavailable contacts, weather, and political safety risks after 1968 — and was ultimately canceled in December 1970.

APROPuebloTucsonArchival Sources

Download PDF: First Expedition (1970)

Courtesy of Petr Sittek

1970s

First Slovak Searchers — Levoča Hills

After the account spread, early Slovak speleologists such as Pavol Mitter and Stanislav Pavlarčík were among the first to search domestically, concentrating on the Levoča Hills and nearby ranges.

Levoča HillsSpeleology1970s

1990s

Ivan Mackerle's Investigations

The well-known Czech explorer Ivan Mackerle took up the Moonshaft, analysing Horák's diary and sketches and mounting field trips to candidate sites — work later folded into the wider Czech research record.

Czech ResearchField Expedition1990s

2000s–present

Walter Pavliš & Ivo Hlásenský — Long-Term Survey

Frequently cited among the most persistent modern searchers, Walter Pavliš and Ivo Hlásenský ran systematic surveys in the mountains around Stará Ľubovňa and maintained a website and discussion group that gathered decades of material from the research community.

Stará ĽubovňaSpeleologyModern

2019

New Expedition to the Scene (2019)

Documented in Martin Lavay's 2019 book, a fresh expedition revisited candidate sites and compiled the case's research history, theory catalogue, and field notes into a single volume.

Field ExpeditionSynthesis2019

2024–present

Jaroslav Mareš — Summarizing Project

A Czech research team led by Jaroslav Mareš began assembling a comprehensive summary of the case and coordinating with other investigators, aiming to consolidate decades of scattered findings.

Czech ResearchSynthesisModern

Featured Source: MUFON UFO Journal (December 1998)

MUFON UFO Journal, Page 16 — December 1998

This December 1998 profile in the MUFON UFO Journal spotlights Ted Phillips — the foremost physical trace researcher in the world, according to the article's author Dwight Connelly. Phillips is directly connected to the Moonshaft search: he was among the experts assembled by APRO in 1970 to investigate Antonín Horák's account and plan an expedition to Czechoslovakia. A colleague of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Phillips brought rigorous field methodology to the effort. The expedition was ultimately called off, but his involvement illustrates the level of serious, internationally recognised researchers who considered the Moonshaft claim worthy of investigation. Ted Phillips has since passed away; his work is continued by Thomas Ferrario.

Courtesy of Petr Sittek

Current Research Community

Slovak Speleological Society

Professional speleologists continue systematic cave documentation across Slovakia, maintaining interest in the Moonshaft mystery.

Independent Researchers

Multiple individuals pursue personal investigations, combining historical research with field exploration.

Academic Institutions

University geology and history departments occasionally incorporate Moonshaft research into broader cave and historical studies.

Search Challenges

Geographic Scope

Slovakia contains thousands of caves across multiple mountain ranges. Systematic exploration of all potential locations would require decades and enormous resources.

Access Restrictions

Many cave systems lie within protected natural areas with restricted access. Permits require extensive justification and don't always get approved.

Terrain Changes

Eighty years of geological activity, including erosion, rockfalls, and forest growth, may have obscured original cave entrances or altered the landscape.

Documentation Gaps

Wartime records are incomplete, and Horák's published accounts lack precise coordinates. Reconciling vague descriptions with actual terrain proves difficult.