Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

The lunar far side as imaged by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter using its LROC Wide Angle Camera.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University

The international scientific community has long been discussing the need to keep the farside of the Moon free from human-made radio frequency intrusion.

What’s at issue?

The lunar farside always faces away from Earth. Consequently it is “radio-quiet,” shielded by the moon itself from radio-frequency interference (RFI) crackling through space, pumped out by powerful Earth-based transmitters.

The proposed Protected Antipode Circle, a circular piece of lunar landscape to be reserved for scientific purposes on the farside of the Moon.
Credit: Claudio Maccone

A just-established Moon Farside Protection Permanent Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has begun to frame issues and solutions to guard against RFI corruption of the Moon’s farside.

Crater Daedalus on the lunar farside as seen from the Apollo 11 spacecraft in lunar orbit.
Credit: NASA

For more details, go to my new Space.com story – “Moon group pushes for protection of ultraquiet lunar far side – The far side is a great place for radio telescopes, astronomers say” at:

https://www.space.com/moon-far-side-radio-quiet-telescope-project