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RI scientists offered telescope on the moon
International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) founding director Steve Durst has called on Indonesian astronomers and researchers to develop their studies by using data derived from the first telescope installed on the moon
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nternational Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) founding director Steve Durst has called on Indonesian astronomers and researchers to develop their studies by using data derived from the first telescope installed on the moon.
'To develop astronomy's next frontier,' said Durst in a colloquium at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on Wednesday.
The ILOA is a private space consortium based in Hawaii, US. The institute has forged cooperation with several countries, namely Japan, Singapore, Brazil, Chile and Canada, through the Galaxy Forum, which aims to raise awareness of the need to enhance research abilities and galactic exploration.
The ILOA cooperated with China's space mission through unmanned vehicle Chang'e 3 to install the telescope at the near side of the Moon, mid-northern latitude in the 'Mare Imbrium/Sinus Iridum' region. The first of its kind, the telescope has been set up for two months.
Durst said that the telescope, located at the center of the Milky Way, would collect data for later transmissions to Earth.
'We're collaborating with Chinese astronomers to receive and exchange data,' he said, adding that the data could only be accessed at the end of the year as the process needed to be perfected.
Durst said that he hoped observations from the telescope would help galaxy-related studies as many stars had yet to be identified and planets were still being search for.
The moon provides unobstructed views and its position could help disclose galactic phenomena. The ILOA, according to Durst, currently has three missions on the moon, including a telescope that is already on the moon.
The other missions include landing the ILO-X telescope, a miniature telescope the size of a shoe box weighing 2 kilograms that will send data and images accessible to the public.
The telescope will be installed by using a robotic Moon Express mobile vehicle in 2015.
According to Durst, the telescope also supports scientific research and commercial broadcasting. The ILO-X will land on the site close to Mount Malapert, a mountainous region near the south pole of the moon for observations as well as astronomical and galactic communications.
Another ambitious mission will be the ILO-Human Service Mission in 2018.
ITB Astronomy Department lecturer Chatif Kunjaya said his department was very interested in the collaboration.
According to him, direct observation from the moon could become an attraction of its own for students and astronomers.
'Especially when observations are intentionally directed at the center of the galaxy where the
phenomena are most active,' said Chatif.
