Racing to build a radio telescope on the moon
Scientists are proposing the construction of a radio telescope on the far side of the moon to escape Earth's increasing radio interference. The project, known as the Lunar Farside Transients and Technology Telescope, aims to preserve the ability to monitor deep space signals.
Why it matters
As human radio activity crowds the spectrum, the moon's far side represents a vital, finite resource for future astronomical research.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Concept art of the Lunar Crater Telescope, a conceptual mission to the Far Side. Credit: Vladimir Vustyansky Remember the "Wow!" signal? That high-energy radio signature occurred in 1977, when Earth was much "quieter" in the radio band. If it happened today, it probably wouldn't even move the needle on the background noise of human radio chatter. Signals from satellites, radar and other human technology have crowded out extraterrestrial radio signals, limiting our ability to monitor the heavens for signals like the still-unexplained one received in 1977. What's more, the ionosphere partially blocks lower-frequency radio signals, making them even harder to detect from the ground.
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