China has put forth a proposal to construct a large radio telescope array on the far side of the moon.
For the last few years, concepts have been floating around of establishing a telescope on the moon’s radio-quiet far side, which is recognized as an ideal location for radio astronomy.
For instance, NASA proposed building a Lunar Crater Radio Telescope (LCRT) in this region a few years back.
If approved, China’s ambitious project could be the first operational lunar radio observatory.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the proposed lunar radio telescope array would feature 7,200 butterfly-shaped antennas. This array will be designed to capture ultra-long wavelength cosmic signals, which are vital for studying the early universe. It could peer into the universe’s infancy, before the first stars even flickered on.
The Earth’s atmosphere blocks ultra-long wavelength radio signals. But the moon’s far side, shielded from Earth’s interference, offers a pristine window to these faint cosmic whispers.
They have to land humans there first.
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