First Telescope on the Moon

[Rihard]

Interesting

http://www.ecns.cn/2013/12-23/93765.shtml

<< On Dec 14, Chang'e-3 set down on the moon, making China the third country in the world to make a soft landing with a lunar probe.

The probe carried a telescope, which scientists say can offer a unique view of the cosmos.

"It is the dream of scientists to look into space from the moon, where observation is better because the moon has no pollution," said Ouyang Ziyuan, a senior adviser for China's lunar program, in an interview before the Dec 2 launch.

"This is the first moon-based astronomical telescope. I know many countries are planning similar projects, but we were the first" to do it, he said. >>

[Naemeth]

Just imagine the views of Earth .

[Zakalwe]

Interesting

http://www.ecns.cn/2013/12-23/93765.shtml

"This is the first moon-based astronomical telescope. I know many countries are planning similar projects, but we were the first" to do it, he said. >>

Hmmm... I'm not sure that that claim can stand. The Apollo LM's had an Alignment Optical Telescope that could be used for taking star readings.  http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/aot.htm

Also Apollo 16 used an ultraviolet  observatory to take images in the far ultraviolet (which is blocked by the Earth;s atmosphere). The kit had a f1.0, 75mm telescope/lens  http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/docs/ApolloCat/Part1/UVC.htm

<edit> the Wiki entry for the mission says "The lander is equipped with a 150 mm (5.9 in) Ritchey–Chrétien telescope that will be used to observe galaxies, active galactic nuclei, variable stars, binaries, novae, quasars and blazars in the near-UV band (245-340 nm), and is capable of detecting objects at a brightness as low as magnitude 13. The thin atmosphere and slow rotation of the Moon allow extremely long, uninterrupted observations of a target"  This is being used for far ultraviolet imaging. OK, the Apollo images were pretty poor and this will be a quantum leap forward, but to claim that they are the first to have an UV scope is factually incorrect.

[crashtestdummy]

How big is the telescope on the Chinese probe?

[Zakalwe]

How big is the telescope on the Chinese probe?

150mm

[Rihard]

Interesting info Zakalwe,

I had never seen images taken with that Apollo instrument or heard about it before.

I think the real difference between the Apollo and the Chang'e instruments is that this one is acting more like a remote observatory on the moon rather then like a one time use experiement. I think this can still be considered like the first of this kind and I hope to see more of them in the future.

And now that we are in the digital age, I hope the Chinese will retrieve and share some nice data from their RC telescope

[crashtestdummy]

Not really big enough to be classed as a telescope then >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>runs

[Zakalwe]

Not really big enough to be classed as a telescope then >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>runs

A real Moon astronomer would use a Dob and setting circles. None of this remote-control, GOTO nonsense :grin:

(lights blue touch paper and runs like heck) :grin:

[Lancashire Astroguy]

The real fun would be to set up two well-seperated telesopes on the Moon and link them together as an interferometer. There would be a possibility then of imaging exoplanets, not unlike the long-planned but continously postponed NASA terrestrial planet finder.

[smudgeball]

A real Moon astronomer would use a Dob

The spacecraft would have blasted off back to earth before he'd finished collimating

[crashtestdummy]

Because collimating for 2 minutes takes longer than the average polar align?

[cantab]

With a 6-inch scope this is basically one part bragging rights, one part proof of concept. And at the end of the day, if you want clear views and a stable platform, is it not just better to put a scope in orbit?