Re: [ATM] Mirror on the Moon

["Malcolm McDonald" <toliman@wave.co.nz>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Chen" <peterchenmd@gmail.com>
To: "Kevin MIchael Zabbo" <chaosopher23@yahoo.com>
Cc: <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 2:28 AM
Subject: Re: [ATM] Mirror on the Moon


>A very low frequency (<10MHz) radio telescope on the far side of the Moon
> has always been considered one of the best use of the Moon.  That is
> something that can't be done anywhere else in the solar system, I believe.
>
> That said, there is room for an optical telescope on the near side.
> Think of all
> the fantastic images that the Hubble has provided.  Now image that, 
> instead of
> an orbital night of about 45 minutes or so, a Moon scope can stay on an 
> object
> for 2 weeks at a stretch.  And on a perfectly stable, wobble free platform 
> too.
> The depth of exposure and the amount of details would be beyond anything
> one can imagine - just like no one could have imagined what fantastic 
> images
> Hubble would send back before the mission.
>

I am becomeing more enthusiastic about this scope as time goes on. However I 
am a little sceptial about the 2 week exposure. The moon is playing leapfrog 
with the earth as they both orbit the sun. All the while the moon keeps the 
same face toward the earth.  I think there would be some long and 
interesting star trails on a 2 week exposure. However I am sure a computer 
controled camera could follow the image as it moves across the miror for a 
short time, but I doubt 2 weeks.


Re. Dust. I understand that the Mare on the moon are the result of lava 
filling the very large impact craters and solidifing into Basalt like rock. 
Wouldn't they be a better, dust free, site for the scope?  Maybe the 
temperature fluctuations have broken the surface but it sure looks diferent 
to the dusty part of the moon through my scope.  Hmmm...could be my scope 
just dosen't resolve dust particles on the moon.:-)


> IMHO, dust on the Moon is not such a big problem.  Just cover the 
> telescope
> during terminator (day/night line) crossing.  And keep people and 
> spacecraft
> landings away from it.  Moreover, if the telescope is in some permanently
> shadowed craters at the north or south poles, you don't even need the 
> cover.
>
> A Moon scope is a good thing to muse upon when looking at the Moon thru an
> scope on Earth.  I believe Galileo was the first person to mention the 
> idea.
>
> P. Chen
>
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