Potential And Perils: Paths To Protecting Lunar Sites Of Extraordinary Scientific Importance (SESIs) For Astronomy Before It Is Too Late
Abstract
The Moon Presents Unique Opportunities For High-Impact Astronomy That Could Enhance Our Understanding Of Our Solar System, The Possibility Of Life Beyond Earth, And The Evolution Of The Universe. A Handful Of Locations On The Lunar Surface Are 'sites Of Extraordinary Scientific Importance' (SESIs) For Such Studies, Presenting Opportunities For Astronomical Research Unmatched Anywhere Else. For Instance, The Farside Of The Moon, The Most Radio-Quiet Location In The Inner Solar System, Could Allow For The Emplacement Of Telescopes To Study The Cosmic Dark Ages In Ways That Are Impossible Elsewhere. However, We Are Also On The Cusp Of A Broader Lunar Renaissance. A Flurry Of Upcoming Missions, Both Scientific And Non-Scientific, Will Target Some Of These Very Same Sites And Threatens To Degrade Their Value To Science. Protecting These Sites Is An Urgent Matter. Two Major International Efforts To Create Rules For Activities On The Moon Are Afoot, But So Far Neither Emphasizes Protecting SESIs. To Safeguard The Exceptional Scientific Opportunities On The Moon, Astronomers Should Engage These International Rulemaking Efforts And Steer Them Towards Ensuring The Preservation Of SESIs For Research And Discovery. We Propose Elements Of A Programme Of Action To Adopt During A Crucial, But Closing, Window. This Article Is Part Of A Discussion Meeting Issue 'Astronomy From The Moon: The Next Decades (Part 2)'.
Recommended Citation
Krolikowski, A., & Elvis, M. (2024). Potential And Perils: Paths To Protecting Lunar Sites Of Extraordinary Scientific Importance (SESIs) For Astronomy Before It Is Too Late. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 382(2271) The Royal Society.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0078
Department(s)
History and Political Science
Keywords and Phrases
astronomy from the Moon; lunar governance and policy; lunar telescopes; protection of scientific opportunity; site of extraordinary scientific importance (SESI)
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1364-503X
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2024 The Royal Society, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
09 May 2024
PubMed ID
38522464
