Skip to main content

Science from the Moon

  • Living reference work entry
  • Latest version View entry history
  • First Online:
Handbook of Lunar Base Design and Development
  • 52 Accesses

Abstract

Science from the Moon details the ability to utilize the Moon as a platform for observations of our Universe, including our Sun and Earth. This chapter addresses the observations necessary to answer major questions in the fields of Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Earth Science, and Astrobiology; and briefly describes how these fields use the electromagnetic spectrum to characterize objects in the Universe and answer those major questions. The electromagnetic spectrum provides a vast amount of knowledge regarding the temperature, mass, composition, physical state, and energy of celestial objects, as well as information on the presence of exoplanets and stellar evolution. Analysis of the electromagnetic spectrum from the Moon will enable study of the Universe in far greater detail than is obtainable from terrestrial surface and Earth-orbiting spacecraft. This chapter also discusses the selection of observation sites and instruments, the benefits of a lunar platform, as well as the recent detection of gravitational waves.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbott BP, Abbott R, Abbott TD et al (2016) GW 150914: first results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with advanced LIGO. Phys Rev. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.93.122003

  • Abbott BP, Abbott R, Abbott TD et al (2019) GWTC-1: a gravitational-wave transient catalog of compact binary mergers observed by LIGO and Virgo during the first and second observing runs. Phys Rev X. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.9.031040

  • Ahmad QR, Allen RC, Andersen TC et al (2001) Measurement of the rate of νe+d→p+p+e− interactions produced by 8B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. Phys Rev Lett. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.071301

  • Bréton J (1997) The near side of the Moon used for Earth-related applications. International Astronautical Federation paper no. 97-Q.4.05. International Astronautical Federation, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns JO, Mendell WW (1986) Future astronomical observatories on the Moon. NASA CP-2489. http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19890006439. Accessed 1 Dec 2019

  • Butcher G (2012) Mysteries of the Sun. https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/mysteries-of-the-sun. Accessed 20 Dec 2019

  • Carruthers R (1992) Ultraviolet space astronomy. In: Encyclopedia of physical science and technology, 2nd edn. TRW, Inc, Redondo Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • Connaughton V, Burns E, Goldstein A et al (2016) Fermi GBM observations of LIGO gravitational-wave event GW 150914. Astrophys J Lett. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/826/1/L6

  • Davidson S, Taylor R (1996) Use of radio frequency spectrum in lunar environment. In: SPACE 96 – proceedings of the fifth international conference on engineering, construction, and operations in space, Albuquerque, NM, June 1996. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, pp 847–853

    Google Scholar 

  • De Pontieu B, Rouppe van der Voort L, McIntosh SW et al (2014) On the prevalence of small-scale twist in the solar chromosphere and transition region. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1255732

  • Eckart P (ed) (1999) Lunar base handbook: an introduction to lunar base design, development, and operations, 1st edn. McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • ESA (1992) Mission to the Moon: Europe’s priority for the scientific exploration and utilization of the Moon. European Space Agency Lunar Study Steering Group. ESA SP-1150

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazier S (2019) NASA’s Parker Solar Probe sheds new light on the sun. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/nasas-parker-solar-probe-sheds-new-light-on-the-sun/. Accessed 20 Dec 2019

  • Gehrz RD, Grasdalen GL, Hackwell JA (1992) Astronomy, infrared. In: Encyclopedia of physical science and technology, 2nd edn. TRW, Inc, Redondo Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • Grindlay J (1992) X-ray astronomy. In: Encyclopedia of physical science and technology, 2nd edn. TRW, Inc, Redondo Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • Haigh JD (2007) The Sun and the Earth’s climate. Living Rev Sol Phys. https://doi.org/10.12942/lrsp-2007-2

  • Hansteen V, De Pontieu B, Carlsson M et al (2014) The unresolved fine structure resolved: IRIS observations of the solar transition region. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.125575

  • Haymes C (1985) Lunar based gamma ray astronomy. In: Lunar bases & space activities of the 21st century. Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, pp 307–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood L, Sonett C (1985) The next generation geophysical investigation on the Moon. In: Lunar bases & space activities of the 21st century. Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, pp 253–265

    Google Scholar 

  • ISU (1993) International Lunar Far Side Observatory and Science Station (ILFOSS). International Space University, design project report

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson SW, Wetzel JP (1992) Required technologies for lunar astronomical observatories. In: Mendell WW (ed) Second conference on lunar bases and space activities of the 21st century, vol 1, NASA-CP-3166, pp 323–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouveliotou C, Agol E, Batalha N et al (2013) Enduring quests daring visions: NASA astrophysics in the next three decades. https://science.nasa.gov/files/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/secure-Astrophysics_Roadmap_2013_0.pdf. Accessed 20 Dec 2019

  • Lunar Exploration Roadmap Steering Committee (2016) The lunar exploration roadmap: exploring the Moon in the 21st century: themes, goals, objectives, investigations, and priorities, 2016 (version 1.3). Chartered by the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap/. Accessed 20 Dec 2019

  • Macquart J-P, Prochaska JX, McQuinn M et al (2020) A census of baryons in the Universe from localized fast radio bursts. Nature 581:391–395

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • National Earth Science Teachers Association/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (NESTA/UCAR) (2008) Thermosphere-overview. https://scied.ucar.edu/shortcontent/thermosphere-overview. Accessed 19 Dec 2019

  • National Research Council (2013) Solar and space physics: a science for a technological society. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.17226/13060

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • National Science and Technology Council (US) Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation Working Group (2019) National space weather strategy and action plan. White House, Office of Science and Technology Policy. Available via WhiteHouse.gov. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/National-Space-Weather-Strategy-and-Action-Plan-2019.pdf. Accessed 20 Dec 2019

  • Nein ME, Hilchey J (1995) The Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope Experiment (LUTE): enabling technology for an early lunar surface payload. J Br Interplanet Soc 48(2):93–99

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nein ME, Davis BG, Hilchey JD (1992) System concepts for a series of lunar optical telescopes. In: Proceedings of the third international conference on engineering, construction, and operations in space, Space ’92, vol 2, American Society of Civil Engineers, Denver, 31 May–4 June 1992, pp 1809–1831

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker EN (1958) Dynamics of the interplanetary gas and magnetic fields. Astrophys J 128:664–676. https://doi.org/10.1086/146579

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Peter H, Tian H, Curdt W et al (2014) Hot explosions in the cool atmosphere on the Sun. Science 346(6207):1255726. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1255726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rycroft M (ed) (1990) The Cambridge encyclopedia of space. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Science Mission Directorate (2020) Explore science 2020–2024: a vision for science excellence. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy. Accessed 18 Dec 2019

  • Shipman L (1992) Astrophysics. In: Encyclopedia of physical Science and technology, 2nd edn. TRW, Inc, Redondo Beach

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith HJ, Gurshtein AA, Mendell W (1991) International manned lunar base: beginning the 21st century in space. Sci Glob Secur 2:209–233

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Space Weather Prediction Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (SWPC/NOAA) (2019) Coronal mass ejections. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections. Accessed 12 Dec 2019

  • Staehle R, Burke J, Snyder G et al (1993) Lunar base siting. In: Resources of near-Earth space. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp 427–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuhlinger E (1999) Science at a lunar base. In: Eckart P (ed) The lunar base handbook: an introduction to lunar base design, development, and operations, 1st edn. McGraw-Hill, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson P (1992) The proposed NASA lunar-based observatories. In: Proceedings of the third international conference on engineering, construction, and operations in space, Space ’92, American Society of Civil Engineers, Denver, 31 May–4 June 1992, pp 1798–1808

    Google Scholar 

  • Testa P, De Pontieu B, Allred J et al (2014) Evidence of nonthermal particles in coronal loops heated impulsively by nanoflares. Science 346(6207):1255724. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1255724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian H, DeLuca EE, Cranmer SR et al (2014) Prevalence of small-scale jets from the networks of the solar transition region and chromosphere. Science 346(6207):1255711. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1255711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weisskopf MC, Brinkman B, Canizares C et al (2002) An overview of the performance and scientific results from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Publ Astron Soc Pac 114(791):1–24

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Edmunson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Edmunson, J., Adams, M. (2022). Science from the Moon. In: Eckart, P., Aldrin, A. (eds) Handbook of Lunar Base Design and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_21-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_21-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05323-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05323-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Science from the Moon
    Published:
    03 March 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_21-2

  2. Original

    Science from the Moon
    Published:
    28 December 2021

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05323-9_21-1