文档介绍：ARTICLE IN PRESS
Space Policy 20 (2004) 99–107
Does the lunar surface still offer value as a site for
astronomical observatories?
Daniel F. Lestera,*, Harold W. Yorkeb, John C. Matherc
a Department of Astronomy and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
b Division of Earth and Space Science, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
c Lab for Astronomy and Solar Physics, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Abstract
Current thinking about the Moon as a destination has revitalized interest in lunar astronomical observatories. Once seen by a
large munity as a highly enabling site, the dramatic improvement in capabilities for free-space observatories prompts
reevaluation of this interest. Whereas the lunar surface offers huge performance advantages for astronomy over terrestrial sites, free-
space locales such as Earth orbit or Lagrange points offer performance that is superior to what could be achieved on the Moon.
While astronomy from the Moon may be cost-effective once infrastructure is there, it is in many respects no longer clearly enabling
compared with free space.
r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Moon; Observatories; Astronomy
1. Introduction As a site for telescopes, we have a fairly good
understanding of the conditions, opportunities, and