Astronomy from the Moon: a science cornucopia, with challenges
Day: Thursday 2 October
Time: 17:45 - 18:45 AEST
Location: Pyrmont Theatre, International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney
Astronomers are realizing that the Moon offers rich possibilities for understanding the origins of the solar system, the Dark Ages of the Universe, before there were stars or galaxies, how supernovas explode, and the beginnings of life on other worlds. The equipment that will explore these unknowns include ultra-cold far infrared telescopes, gravitational wave detectors, radio telescopes on the Farside, and interferometers working in visible and ultraviolet light. They will make today's greatest telescopes look like toys. The engineering will be a great challenge, but human bases and their supply chains make them plausible. Perhaps more challenging is that only a few, small, locations on the Moon enable these breakthrough experiments. The protection of these sites for science is highly desirable, but difficult to achieve.
