Time to protect scientific opportunity on the Moon

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. However, the surface of the Moon, as any other airless planetary object in the solar system, is continually bombarded by interplanetary dust particles that cause impact damage and generate secondary ejecta particles that continually overturn the top layer of the lunar regolith. In addition, there is evidence, that small particles comprising the lunar regolith can be electrically charged, mobilized and transported, also representing a hazard for covering sensitive surfaces and interfering with exposed mechanical structures. In addition to the naturally occurring dust transport, rocket firings during landings and take-offs, pedestrian and motorized vehicle traffic will also liberate copious amounts of dust, representing a potential hazard for the safe and optimal use of optical platforms. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)’.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The lunar dust environment: concerns for Moon-based astronomy

Horányi,

Szalay,

Wang

2024

“…A series of upcoming missions to the lunar surface and orbit threatens to reduce or even destroy the value of certain SESIs to astronomical research [25,26]. The volume of mission activity on the Moon expected within the next decade will dwarf all the lunar traffic seen so far.…”

Section: The Threat To Astronomical Sesis On the Moonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the text of the Accords itself makes almost no mention of scientific missions and establishes no specific protections for SESIs. A next step could be to develop an additional protocol to the Accords dedicated to scientific activities on the Moon [26]. This document could develop and elaborate upon some of the principles and practices introduced in the Accords, such as the notion of deconfliction and the concept of safety zones, to develop specific protections for SESIs on the Moon.…”

Section: (A) Embed Sesi Protection In Lunar Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Potential and perils: paths to protecting lunar sites of extraordinary scientific importance (SESIs) for astronomy before it is too late

Krolikowski,

Elvis

2024

The Moon presents unique opportunities for high-impact 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, presenting opportunities for astronomical research unmatched anywhere else. For instance, the farside of the Moon, the most radio-quiet location in the inner solar system, could allow for the emplacement of telescopes to study the cosmic Dark Ages in ways that are impossible elsewhere. However, we are also on the cusp of a broader lunar renaissance. A flurry of upcoming missions, both scientific and non-scientific, will target some of these very same sites and threatens to degrade their value to science. Protecting these sites is an urgent matter. Two major international efforts to create rules for activities on the Moon are afoot, but so far neither emphasizes protecting SESIs. To safeguard the exceptional scientific opportunities on the Moon, astronomers should engage these international rulemaking efforts and steer them towards ensuring the preservation of SESIs for research and discovery. We propose elements of a programme of action to adopt during a crucial, but closing, window. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)’.

“…More globally, it becomes urgent 'to protect scientific opportunity on the Moon' as advocated by A. Krolikowski [26] in the perspective of the growing lunar activity expected in the next decade. Already, it had been pointed out that the entire lunar surface should be protected [27] as a fundamental and accessible recorder of the past evolution of the Sun and the Galaxy, by all the astrophysical processes to which it has been exposed for billions of years.…”

Section: Tentative Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infrared astronomy beyond JWST: the Moon perspective

Maillard

2024

In the first special issue on ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades', two projects for the infrared domain, considered as justifying a lunar implementation, were presented: a general purpose light collector for the 1–200 μm range, of diameter much larger than any ELT on Earth and a specialized instrument in the very far-infrared aiming at the detection of the weak CMB spectral distortions. Learning from the launch of JWST, to surpass it in spatial, spectral resolution, spectral coverage and sensitivity, the concept of a large infrared, lunar collector is revisited to be specified on a more realistic approach. The telescope is designed to fit in its stowed configuration into the fairing of a future cargo launcher, in order to be deployed on the Moon in robotic mode from a single launch. With these constraints, its diameter is limited to 13 m, i.e. just twice JWST. The choice of the potential sites is also better defined, by selecting the coldest lunar spots that could provide a passive cooling, on average colder than is obtained for JWST at L2. In conclusion, the advantages and the requirements for the development of such a facility on the Moon in the next decades are reviewed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades (part 2)’.