Since the idea of a radio observatory on the Moon came up in 1985, at
least 40 articles of work have been published on this possibility.
The most comprehensive and recent study has been ESA's "Very Low
Frequency Array on the Lunar Far Side" [ESA SCI(97)2], published in 1997.
"This study has confirmed the exciting possibilities of very low
frequency radio astronomy and showed the feasibility of the project within
the framework of Phase III of the ESA Moon program: "science from the
moon". Before the mission can be started, however, a number of in-situ
measurements need to be performed to confirm certain environmental
conditions."
Remaining Questions: The most important questions we still need to answer are:
How far to the far side do we need to go to be free from all the noise?
How might the Lunar regolith scatter radio waves to disturb the observation?
How dense is the Lunar ionosphere? -- After all, the ionosphere on Earth is what's preventing us from doing the observation from Earth.
Where is the best site for the observatory?
Required Measurements:
We can find out the answers by making the following measurements:
The level of terrestrial noise at various longitude on the far side of the Moon.
Electrical properties of the Lunar surface, including permittivity and conductivity; their variation with depth and wavelength.
The electron concentration profile above the Lunar surface, both during the day and the night.
Accurate measurements of surface topology, magnetic field, and electrical properties at candidate sites.
Hope of Today...
To help propose precursor missions to make these measurements, I'm trying to predict the outcome by simulating the
propagation of radio waves around the Moon. I'm slowly getting results!
Let's try to get the currently planned Lunar missions to make some of these measurements!
Let's propose precursor missions to the Moon that will have significant scientific returns of their own!
