Daniel FischerSep 12, 2025
The limits of #cosmology: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.08066 by Joseph Silk -> "The Moon [...] is the ideal site for the largest #telescopes that we can dream about, at wavelengths spanning decimetric radio through optical to terahertz FIR. [...] Here I will set out my vision of the case for #LunarAstronomy over the next several decades."
The limits of cosmology

The Moon is our future. It may seem like a chimera with a projected cost in excess of 100 billion\$, and counting, dispensed on ARTEMIS with little to show to date. However it is the ideal site for the largest telescopes that we can dream about, at wavelengths spanning decimetric radio through optical to terahertz FIR. And it is these future telescopes that will penetrate the fundamental mysteries of the first hydrogen clouds, the first stars, the first galaxies, the first supermassive black holes, and the nearest habitable exoplanets. Nor does it stop there. Our lunar telescopes will take us back to the first months of the Universe, and even back to the first 10$^{-36}$ second after the Big Bang when inflation most likely occurred. Our lunar telescopes will provide high resolution images of exoplanets that are nearby Earth-like 'twins' and provide an unrivalled attempt to answer the ultimate cosmic question of whether we are alone in the universe. Here I will set out my vision of the case for lunar astronomy over the next several decades.

arXiv.org
Show threadBoudSep 11, 2025

Forwarding this to @cosmology - very nice overview of the case for #LunarCosmology (and other #LunarAstronomy) by #JoeSilk in #ArXiv_2509_08066 . Joe acknowledges (p5, para4) that astronomy should not be the top budget priority,

"Humanity has even more compelling issues that need to be addressed."

and argues for why #LunarCosmology is justified: huge scientific results are (more or less) guaranteed with a rather modest budget.

@pomarede

https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.08066

The limits of cosmology

The Moon is our future. It may seem like a chimera with a projected cost in excess of 100 billion\$, and counting, dispensed on ARTEMIS with little to show to date. However it is the ideal site for the largest telescopes that we can dream about, at wavelengths spanning decimetric radio through optical to terahertz FIR. And it is these future telescopes that will penetrate the fundamental mysteries of the first hydrogen clouds, the first stars, the first galaxies, the first supermassive black holes, and the nearest habitable exoplanets. Nor does it stop there. Our lunar telescopes will take us back to the first months of the Universe, and even back to the first 10$^{-36}$ second after the Big Bang when inflation most likely occurred. Our lunar telescopes will provide high resolution images of exoplanets that are nearby Earth-like 'twins' and provide an unrivalled attempt to answer the ultimate cosmic question of whether we are alone in the universe. Here I will set out my vision of the case for lunar astronomy over the next several decades.

arXiv.org
Daniel PomarèdeSep 11, 2025

Cosmology: The Moon is our Future

The limits of cosmology, by Joseph Silk
https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.08066

#Cosmology #LunarAstronomy #LunarTelescope #LunarTelescopes #teslescope #telescopes #radioastronomy #radiotelescope #radioteslescopes #galaxies #Moon #exoplanets #astrodon #Astronomy #Astrophysics #SMBH #blackholes #bigbang #universe #science

Dr. John Barentine FRASJun 19, 2024

Lunar highlights from last night's observations and imaging: (1) the Aristarchus plateau; (2) the volcanic Marius Hills and the “lunar swirl” Reiner Gamma; (3) the massive volcanic mound Mons Rümker.

#Astronomy #LunarAstronomy #Moon

Dr. John Barentine FRASJun 18, 2024

Some lunar highlights from last night's observations and imaging. (1) Sunrise over Aristarchus; (2) Mare Humorum; (3) the ancient Schiller-Zucchius impact basin.

#Astronomy #LunarAstronomy #Moon

Doug BostromMar 28, 2024

The whole issue: in sum an actual reason for the so-called "lunar economy" aka "rebranded government contracts to private enterprise" or "same as it ever was."

Absolutely tantalizing.

#LunarObservatories
#LunarAstronomy

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rsta/2024/382/2271

Doug BostromMar 28, 2024

"The Moon presents unique opportunities for...astronomy that could enhance our understanding of our solar system, the possibility of life beyond Earth, and the evolution of the universe. A handful of locations on the lunar surface are ‘sites of extraordinary scientific importance’ (SESIs) for such studies...upcoming missions... target some of these very same sites and threatens to degrade their value... Protecting these sites is an urgent matter.

#LunarAstronomy

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2023.0078?af=R

Doug BostromMar 28, 2024

"With the Lunar Crater Radio Telescope (LCRT), we aim to conduct unprecedented measurements of the sky-averaged redshifted signal spectrum in the 4.7–47 MHz band, by deploying a 350 m diameter parabolic reflector mesh inside a lunar crater on the far side of the Moon and suspending a receiver at its focus."

#CosmicDarkAges
#LunarObservatories
#LunarAstronomy
#LunarRadioTelescope

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2023.0073?af=R

Doug BostromMar 28, 2024

One of the few plausible reasons to have a sustained presence on the Moon, human or robotic.

"The Moon has no atmosphere, hence, it offers a unique opportunity to place telescopes on its surface for astronomical observations. It is phase-locked with Earth, and its far side remains free from ground-based interference, enabling the optimal use of radio telescopes."

The darned dancing dust dynamics will be a major fly in the ointment, looks like.

#LunarAstronomy

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsta.2023.0075?af=R

Show threadDr. John Barentine FRASFeb 24, 2024

A better version of this image with as many features marked as I could identify. IM-1 Odysseus landed in Malapert A, marked in red. For scale, the mountains have heights of ~4-8 km.

A surprising number of features in the lunar south polar region still don't have IAU names.

#Moon #LunarAstronomy