Astronomy from the Moon

A Program of Astronomy Research on the Moon and its Logistics Implications

This study concerns itself with one aspect of possible post-Apollo space activity -a pro­ gram of astronomical research on the moon that culminates in the establishment of a lunar observatory. A mathematical model is utilized to analyze the logistics implications of conducting such an astronomical research program. The na­ ture of the research equipment needed for the ac­ complishment of the pr...

Thermal Infrared Data from the Moon: Hazards

Introduction: Earth’s relatively clear thermal infrared (TIR) atmospheric windows correspond to the wavelength region of maximum emitted energy for the global average temperature (8-12 μm) as well as the temperature of most volcanoes/fires (3-5 μm). Furthermore, a majority of minerals have diagnostic emissivity spectra in the 8-12 μm region, making it excellent for the study of surface composit...

Zircon from the Moon , Earth and Mars

PSRD: Recent Gas Escape from the Moon

The Moon is generally thought to be geologically inactive, except for being pummeled by meteoroids of various sizes. The youngest returned igneous rocks are about 3 billion years old, although crater counting suggest some lava flows as young as a billion years. However, Peter Schultz (Brown University), Matthew Staid (Planetary Sciences Institute, Tucson), and Carlé Pieters (Brown University) r...

Astronomy from Antarctica

Astronomers have always sought the very best locations for their telescopes. From observatories in city centres, astronomers moved first to nearby mountain tops, then to remote sites in distant countries, to aircraft, and into space. In the past decade we have come to realise that the best astronomical observing conditions on the surface of the earth are to be found on the Antarctic plateau. Th...