Astronomy from the Moon: From Exoplanets to Cosmology in Visible Light and Beyond

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of lunar-based astronomy, emphasizing large telescopes and interferometers for advanced exoplanet and cosmology research, and proposes a precursor 1-metre telescope to demonstrate capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces innovative lunar astronomy concepts, including large-scale instruments and tests of quantum physics, highlighting science cases unique to the Moon's environment.

Findings

Lunar telescopes can surpass Earth and space-based observatories in certain observations.

A 1-metre-class lunar telescope can achieve significant scientific results as a precursor.

Using the Earth-Moon system can provide novel tests of quantum physics theories.

Abstract

We look at what astronomy from the Moon might be like in the visible over the next few decades. The Moon offers the possibility of installing large telescopes or interferometers with instruments larger than those on orbiting telescopes. We first present examples of ambitious science cases, in particular ideas that cannot be implemented from Earth. After a general review of observational approaches, from photometry to high contrast and high angular resolution imaging, we propose as a first step a 1-metre-class precursor and explore what science can be done with it. We add a proposal to use the Earth-Moon system to test the Quantum Physics theory.