Comments on: The Promise of Astronomy on the Moon http://spudislunarresources.nss.org/blog/the-promise-of-astronomy-on-the-moon/ Fri, 03 Aug 2018 06:04:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 By: Marcel Williams http://spudislunarresources.nss.org/blog/the-promise-of-astronomy-on-the-moon/#comment-2402 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 18:38:07 +0000 http://spudislunarresources.nss.org/blog/?p=777#comment-2402 Because the Hubble is in low Earth orbit, it can only remained fixed on a celestial object for only very short periods of time. But if a Hubble sized telescope (~11.2 tonnes) was placed on the lunar surface, it could take full advantage of the long lunar day or night (14 days) to absorb light from distant objects.

A lunar optical telescope near a lunar outpost would also have the advantage of being relatively easy to maintain by astronauts while repairs or adjustments to a Lagrange point telescope would require an expensive beyond LEO mission.

Marcel

]]> By: Joe http://spudislunarresources.nss.org/blog/the-promise-of-astronomy-on-the-moon/#comment-2400 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:17:48 +0000 http://spudislunarresources.nss.org/blog/?p=777#comment-2400 An interesting article.

If the time ever comes when extensive astronomical activity is to take place on the moon. I would be interesting to know how much the advent of 3D Printing might enhance the development of large lunar surface astronomical facilities.

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