Source: India among countries mulling telescopes on, around the moon (The Hindu, April 4, 2024)
Astronomers are excited about the idea of putting telescopes on the moon and around it. Countries like India and China are leading this effort to use the moon’s clear surroundings to learn more about the universe.
Moon and Orbit Telescopes Proposal:
- Astronomers aim to place high-resolution telescopes on the moon and in orbit around it.
- Proposals for this initiative come from astronomers globally, including India’s PRATUSH project.
Challenges of Earth-based Telescopes:
- Optical and radio telescopes on Earth face challenges due to the atmosphere.
- Pollution affects visibility for optical telescopes, while radio telescopes contend with interference from various sources, including radio and TV signals and the earth’s ionosphere.
Advantages of Moon-Based Telescopes:
- Astronomers worldwide propose setting up high-resolution telescopes on and around the moon.
- India’s proposed telescope, PRATUSH, aims to contribute to this initiative.
Lunar Environment Benefits:
- The moon offers clear viewing conditions due to its lack of atmosphere.
- Its far side acts as a shield against Earth’s radio transmissions and solar plasma winds.
Lunar Telescopes’ Revival:
- Past cost concerns hindered lunar telescope projects, but renewed interest promises a unique astronomical opportunity.
- The Royal Society refers to the moon as “the most radio-quiet location in the solar system.”
Unveiling Cosmic History:
- The universe’s earliest moments remain shrouded in darkness, known as the Dark Ages.
- Moon-based instruments aim to detect faint signals from this period, unaffected by starlight interference.
Moon-Bound Projects:
- NASA’s LuSEE Night project targets studying the Dark Ages’ signals from the moon’s far side.
- Other planned lunar instruments include NASA’s Long-Baseline Optical Imaging Interferometer and ESA’s Argonaut mission.
China’s Moon Exploration:
- China leads with plans for a moon-orbiting radio telescope, scheduled for launch in 2026.
- Queqiao-2 satellite, launched in March 2024, carries a radio telescope payload.
Indian Moon-Based Telescope:
- India’s PRATUSH, developed by Raman Research Institute with ISRO collaboration, will study the universe from lunar orbit.
- Initially launched into Earth orbit, PRATUSH will later head towards the moon, offering optimal observing conditions.
Future Discoveries:
Moon-based telescopes promise to unveil mysteries like dark energy and primordial black holes, enriching our understanding of the cosmos.