Jason
Pluto
May all your hits be crits
Posts: 5,579
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Post by Jason on Nov 16, 2009 12:39:14 GMT -4
Our best chance for directly observing an extrasolar planet would be to build an optical VLB array on the dark side of the Moon, approximately the width of the Moon. Would have to be protected during daylight like any other optical scope, but it would be fun to see them all opening up and you'd get much longer observations. You might even be able to resolve individual continents on a near enough ESP. Plus you could build a VLB radio array in the gaps. Interferometry is fun. Presumably on the dark side so that the Earth would not interfere with observations?
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Post by echnaton on Nov 16, 2009 13:22:38 GMT -4
Maybe it is to alleviate fears of spying on earth. A telescope with that resolving power could certainly take some interesting photos of activity on earth. Imaging what some lonely operator, sitting there on the moon with no companionship might do to pass the time.
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Post by randombloke on Nov 16, 2009 18:17:13 GMT -4
Mostly to prevent interference from Earth (especially if we go with the combo radio/optical array), partly to alleviate spying fears (and keep the operators focussed on the job) but also to avoid mucking up the side people see. Any structure that big would eventually significantly alter the visible face of the Moon. Plus a far-side array could cover the blind spot in our NEO spotting programme caused by the presence of the Moon itself.
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