01-16-2004, 08:50 PM
Hi,
That program? The fabrication and utilization of a very large optical telescope on the far side of Luna.
And not just optical. While a much larger optical scope could be made on the Moon, and that combined with the two week observing period would allow us to look much further back, the optical regime is not the only one that would benefit. Earth's atmosphere is mostly opaque to electromagnetic radiation (sure, there's a hole in the visible and in some other bands, but pretty much all short waves are absorbed and long waves mostly reflected). Everything from gamma ray to ELF could be received by observatories on the Moon. And the reduced gravity and lack of weather would make structures much easier to construct.
Besides, the far side of the Moon is the only place in the universe that we can get to that is not polluted by the (man made) electromagnetic radiation of the Earth :)
Indeed, many of us were hoping that the establishment of an observatory would be the next step following the manned missions of thirty some years ago. Unfortunately, the opportunity was wasted (not enough *political* gain for the supporters) and thus most of the space program's achievements through the late 50s and the 60s was pissed away.
So, yes, observatories make a lot of sense for a permanent Moon base. But are they sexy enough to garner votes -- for without that payback and without the "cold war" oneupmanship, the political support required to see a program of this type to fruition is probably lacking.
--Pete
That program? The fabrication and utilization of a very large optical telescope on the far side of Luna.
And not just optical. While a much larger optical scope could be made on the Moon, and that combined with the two week observing period would allow us to look much further back, the optical regime is not the only one that would benefit. Earth's atmosphere is mostly opaque to electromagnetic radiation (sure, there's a hole in the visible and in some other bands, but pretty much all short waves are absorbed and long waves mostly reflected). Everything from gamma ray to ELF could be received by observatories on the Moon. And the reduced gravity and lack of weather would make structures much easier to construct.
Besides, the far side of the Moon is the only place in the universe that we can get to that is not polluted by the (man made) electromagnetic radiation of the Earth :)
Indeed, many of us were hoping that the establishment of an observatory would be the next step following the manned missions of thirty some years ago. Unfortunately, the opportunity was wasted (not enough *political* gain for the supporters) and thus most of the space program's achievements through the late 50s and the 60s was pissed away.
So, yes, observatories make a lot of sense for a permanent Moon base. But are they sexy enough to garner votes -- for without that payback and without the "cold war" oneupmanship, the political support required to see a program of this type to fruition is probably lacking.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?