Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: Robert Hurt and Keith Miller under CC BY-NC 2.0 (Modified)

Our celestial neighbor, the Moon, is a compelling location for large, distributed optical facilities, enabling exquisitely sharp views of the universe.

The increasing knowledge and experience base about lunar surface operations indicates it is not just suitable, but “highly attractive for lunar telescope arrays.”

That finding and others are flagged in a report from the W. M. Keck Institute for Space Studies at the California Institute of Technology.

A study workshop was held last November, focused on astronomical optical interferometry from the lunar surface.

Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) on mobile platforms. The overall facility could start with a small number of apertures (roughly 6) but then could expand to 15-30 units.
Image credit: Britt Griswold

Unprecedented imaging potential

Astronomical gear placed on the Moon’s surface can provide unprecedented imaging potential. “Combining mature terrestrial optical interferometry with emerging lunar surface technologies could enable optical imaging with far greater resolution and sensitivity than current space or ground-based systems,” the report explains.

Indeed, the lack of atmospheric turbulence means small lunar telescopes can outperform even the largest terrestrial telescopes, the report adds. Lunar-based interferometry can unlock sub-milliarcsecond resolution and sensitivity across ultraviolet to Mid Infrared (MIR) wavelengths.

Emerging reality

“This is not a distant dream—it is an emerging reality made possible by converging technological and programmatic developments,” the study declares. “The Moon is now poised to host observatories capable of achieving imaging resolutions far beyond what is possible from Earth or orbit.”

Moreover, lunar access technology is maturing rapidly, the study points out, in the form of both U.S.-based crewed and uncrewed landers, as well as international efforts.

Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio/Visualizer Ernie Wright (USRA)

When you put something on the lunar surface, the report notes, “it stays put—no complicated formation-flying infrastructure.”

Achievable steps

Detailed in the study is a near-term, small mission that could demonstrate the feasibility and value of lunar-based interferometry, hardware flown onboard a Commercial Lunar Payload system (CLPS) lander.

A medium-class mission could enable precision interferometric methods like astrometry to support exoplanet reconnaissance.

A large-scale mission could be flown for breakthrough science. It would deliver extraordinary sub-milliarcsecond imaging across UV to MIR wavelengths, leveraging future lunar infrastructure for transformative astrophysics.

Creating lunar-based infrastructure will take time, hardware, and political willingness to forge a link between the Moon and Earth.
(Image credit: Lockheed Martin)

“We stand at the intersection of technical readiness and lunar opportunity. By advancing lunar interferometry missions today, we can lay the foundation for a revolutionary new era of astrophysics,” the report concludes. “Seizing this moment now with small, achievable steps can build toward a future where the sharpest eyes in the universe watch from the Moon.”

To access the final report – “Astronomical Optical Interferometry from the Lunar Surface – High Sensitivity at Sub-Milliarcsecond Scales” – go to:

https://www.kiss.caltech.edu/final_reports/KISS_AOILS_Orange_Book__FINAL.pdf