A Plan to Build a Giant Liquid Telescope on the Moon

A Plan to Build a Giant Liquid Telescope on the Moon

www.wired.com

Even by astronomical standards, Roger Angel thinks big.

Angel, a leading astronomer at the University of Arizona, is proposing an enormous liquid-mirror telescope on the moon that could be hundreds of times more sensitive than the Hubble Space Telescope.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.astro.ubc.ca
www.jwst.nasa.gov

[edit on 24-5-2007 by UM_Gazz]

I hope that this project goeas ahead. Although the idea is still in its infancy, I think it would be a great idea to begin utilising the space available on the moon for good scienctific research.

As stated in the news reports, the dish sould be able to pick up images of some of the oldest stars in the universe. This should enable the us to make some giant leaps in figuring out where that universe comes from.

www.wired.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 24/5/07 by GrimUK]

I think that this would be great! I'm always fascinated when new images from Hubble or Spitzer become available. Imagine what something like this proposed telescope could 'see'!

Lombozo, me too! Those images that come back from Hubble et.c are facinating, I just hope that the big wigs in government etc. decide that this is a worthwhile project and give them the sponorship they deserve.

Wouldnt it be great? Except for one rather large problem...

A relatively small lunar LMT could be deployed robotically, its rotating dish unfurling like an umbrella. But building a 20-meter or 100-meter instrument would require human hands.

"Without a return to the moon, it's unlikely people would be interested in putting that much money into it," Angel says.

Its that problem of getting people on the moon and then figuring out how they will be able to actually work on the moon as the lunar environment is exceedingly electrically active, oh and the dust that gets everywhere and clogs up machinery...

Source:

Dust adhesion is likely increased by the angular barbed shapes of lunar dust, found to quickly and effectively coat all surfaces it comes into contact with. Additionally, that clinging is possibly due to electrostatic charging, Halekas explained.

"We saw something cool in sector 12!"

"Alright! We're moving the Moon!"



But I guess aiming isn't really a concern when you're looking out that far. Plenty of stuff to look at along the Moon's rotation no matter which way it's pointed.

[edit on 24-5-2007 by apc]

Originally posted by Dae
Wouldnt it be great? Except for one rather large problem...

A relatively small lunar LMT could be deployed robotically, its rotating dish unfurling like an umbrella. But building a 20-meter or 100-meter instrument would require human hands.

"Without a return to the moon, it's unlikely people would be interested in putting that much money into it," Angel says.

Its that problem of getting people on the moon and then figuring out how they will be able to actually work on the moon as the lunar environment is exceedingly electrically active, oh and the dust that gets everywhere and clogs up machinery...

Source:

Dust adhesion is likely increased by the angular barbed shapes of lunar dust, found to quickly and effectively coat all surfaces it comes into contact with. Additionally, that clinging is possibly due to electrostatic charging, Halekas explained.

Dae, I agree these are major obstacles to overcome, maybe some time in the ner future these problems will be ironed out and these plans can come to fruition.

On the other hand, maybe some ultra clever roboticist can create a robot that will be able to do the deeds...