Moon-based telescope may peer at the Earth

New Scientist
Jan. 17, 2006

THE Italian astronomer Galileo was the first to point a telescope at the moon and observe it in detail. So it is only fitting that Italians now want to be the first to build a telescope on the moon and observe Earth from above. But the plan has been panned by the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Italian Space Agency (ASI) is studying the feasibility of landing robots on the moon and using them to construct a space telescope that would both peer into deep space and study the Earth. The instrument, says ASI president Sergio Vetrella, would nestle in a crater or depression to protect it from as much extraneous light as possible. "The idea would also be to use the moon to push new technologies in space observation and in robotics," he says.

But this would cost many billions of euros and ESA would not be willing to chip in, says Marcello Coradini, ESA's head of solar system missions. He says it would be far cheaper to put a space telescope in orbit. Nevertheless, ASI is pressing ahead with its study and expects to report its findings within the next six months.