Actually, the Moon seems the place for telescopes rather than other planets, at present anyway, with present day technology.
There are many advantages setting up a telescope on the Moon, and it is also easiest to get to. Once we have easy heavy lift to the Moon again, and assuming we sort out power supply for the lunar night, and communications with the far side for the far side projects (communications satellite in orbit around Moon probably) I think quite likely we get telescopes built there.
Easiest to build right now are the long wave telescopes on the far side of the Moon.
How Robots Could Build a Radio Telescope on Far Side of the Moon
Though - in a way we already do have telescopes on other planets - well on Mars anyway - our rovers cameras with high power magnification are like small telescopes. E.g. Curiosity's view of Phobos transiting Deimos
Movie of Phobos and Deimos from Curiosity: super cool and scientifically useful
But for large telescopes, the Moon seems the obvious "go to" place at present. That and space telescopes of course.
There are many advantages setting up a telescope on the Moon, and it is also easiest to get to. Once we have easy heavy lift to the Moon again, and assuming we sort out power supply for the lunar night, and communications with the far side for the far side projects (communications satellite in orbit around Moon probably) I think quite likely we get telescopes built there.
- Far side of the Moon is screened from the radio transmissions from Earth. It is easy to build a long wave radio receiver by just trailing wires across the surface. Shorter wavelength receivers could be built in a crater which is naturally the right shape, like the Arecibo observatory Far side of the moon offers quiet place for telescopes, and NASA Sites Lunar Far Side For Low-Frequency Radio Telescope.
- The craters of permanent darkness at the poles are the coldest place in the inner solar system, so ideal places for infrared telescopes as they would be passively cooled. See A Deep Field Infrared Observatory Near the Lunar Pole
- Anywhere on the Moon you have vacuum so no "star twinkling" so sharp images with no need for adaptive optics (space telescopes of course have same advantage)
- Anywhere on the Moon, a crater is naturally the right place for a large mirror or radio telescope.
- You could build a liquid mirror telescope. Instead of using mercury, you use Ionic liquid - salts that are liquid at low temperatures. See Liquid Mirror Telescopes on the MoonArtist's impression of liquid mirror telescope on the Moon - it's a low cost way to get an optically perfect surface. Downside is you can't tilt it, so have to look straight upwards at whatever is above you (some leeway back and forth).
Easiest to build right now are the long wave telescopes on the far side of the Moon.
Though - in a way we already do have telescopes on other planets - well on Mars anyway - our rovers cameras with high power magnification are like small telescopes. E.g. Curiosity's view of Phobos transiting Deimos
Movie of Phobos and Deimos from Curiosity: super cool and scientifically useful
But for large telescopes, the Moon seems the obvious "go to" place at present. That and space telescopes of course.
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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