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Astronomy from a Lunar Base

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2017

S. Volonte
S. Volonte*
Affiliation:
European Space Agency 8-10 rue Mario Nikis 75738 Paris Cedex 15 France

Abstract

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The Moon is generally considered to be an ideal site for astronomy, offering excellent observing conditions and access to the entire electromagnetic and particle spectrum. A wide range of astronomical observations can be carried out from the Moon, but, as concluded in a recent ESA study (Mission to the Moon 1992), only a restricted number could be better implemented from a lunar site rather than from any other location. Very low frequency (VLF) astronomy, astrometry and interferometry fall into this category, as well as a transit telescope to map dark matter in the Universe. Whilst VLF and astrometric telescopes should be automatic, long baseline interferometers will probably require human intervention and will thus benefit from a manned lunar base.

Type
3. Expected Developments in High Precision Astrometry
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 166: Astronomical and Astrophysical Objectives of Sub-Milliarcsecond Optical Astrometry , 1995 , pp. 347 - 350
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1995 

References

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