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Should the Next Generation of Observatories be Built on the Moon?

Could we ever have moon telescopes? The moon may offer a better and safer view of space.

By Conor Feehly
Oct 14, 2023 1:00 PM
Silhouette of telescope and big moon in background.
Credit:vchal/Getty Images)

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Radio telescopes around the globe have provided scientists with data on astronomical phenomena for nearly a century. We have even built telescopes and sent them into orbit, the most recent of which — the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) — has provided astronomers with brand new insights into the formation of early galaxies, nebula where stars are born, and the chemical composition of atmospheres of newly discovered worlds.

But science doesn't stop. Astronomers have been asking what the next generation of telescopes should look like and, perhaps more interestingly, where they should be built.

Could We Ever Have Moon Telescopes?

An idea gaining popularity among researchers is to build the next generation of telescopes on the moon. But what advantages would observatories on the moon bring? And what are the practical limitations of actually doing this?

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