OWL-Moon: Very high resolution spectropolarimetric interferometry and imaging from the Moon: exoplanets to cosmology

TL;DR

OWL-Moon proposes a large lunar telescope to achieve unprecedented resolution for studying exoplanets and cosmology, leveraging interferometry and lunar surface advantages.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept for a 50-100m lunar telescope enabling high-resolution interferometric measurements for exoplanet biosignatures and cosmology.

Findings

Potential for pico-arcsecond resolution imaging.

Enhanced capabilities when combined with Earth-based telescopes.

Addresses key scientific questions in exoplanet biosignatures and cosmology.

Abstract

We outline a concept for OWL-Moon, a 50-100m aperture telescope located on the surface of the Moon, to address three major areas in astronomy, namely the detection of biosignatures on habitable exoplanets, the geophysics of exoplanets, and cosmology. Such a large lunar telescope, when coupled with large Earth-based telescopes, would allow Intensity Interferometric measurements, leading to pico-arcsecond angular resolution. This would have applications in many areas of astronomy and is timely in light of the renewed interest of space agencies in returning to the Moon.