A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole

Roger Angel; Dan Eisenstei; Suresh Sivanandam; Simon P. Worden; Jim Burge; Ermanno Borra; Clément Gosselin; Omar Seddiki; Paul Hickson; Ma Ki Bui; Bernard Foing; Jean Luc Josset; Simon Thibault; Paul Van Susante

doi:10.1117/12.669994

A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole

Roger Angel, Dan Eisenstei, Suresh Sivanandam, Simon P. Worden, Jim Burge, Ermanno Borra, Clément Gosselin, Omar Seddiki, Paul Hickson, Ma Ki Bui, Bernard Foing, Jean Luc Josset, Simon Thibault, Paul Van Susante

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have studied the feasibility and scientific potential of a 20 - 100 m aperture astronomical telescope at the lunar pole, with its primary mirror made of spinning liquid at less than 100K. Such a telescope, equipped with imaging and multiplexed spectroscopic instruments for a deep infrared survey, would be revolutionary in its power to study the distant universe, including the formation of the first stars and their assembly into galaxies. The LLMT could be used to follow up discoveries made with the 6 m James Webb Space Telescope, with more detailed images and spectroscopic studies, as well as to detect objects 100 times fainter, such as the first, high-red shift stars in the early universe. Our preliminary analysis based on SMART-1 AMIE images shows ridges and crater rims within 0.5° of the North Pole are illuminated for at least some sun angles during lunar winter. Locations near these points may prove to be ideal for the LLMT. Lunar dust deposited on the optics or in a thin atmosphere could be problematic. An in-situ site survey appears necessary to resolve the dust questions.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I
Subtitle of host publication	Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669994
State	Published - 2006
Event	Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter - Orlando, FL, United States Duration: May 24 2006 → May 31 2006

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	6265 I
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X

Other

Other	Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando, FL
Period	5/24/06 → 5/31/06

Keywords

Early universe
Lunar telescopes
Rotating cryogenic liquid mirrors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.669994

Cite this

Angel, R., Eisenstei, D., Sivanandam, S., Worden, S. P., Burge, J., Borra, E., Gosselin, C., Seddiki, O., Hickson, P., Ki Bui, M., Foing, B., Josset, J. L., Thibault, S., & Van Susante, P. (2006). A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole. In Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Article 62651U (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 6265 I). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669994

A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole. / Angel, Roger; Eisenstei, Dan; Sivanandam, Suresh et al.
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter. 2006. 62651U (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 6265 I).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Angel, R, Eisenstei, D, Sivanandam, S, Worden, SP, Burge, J, Borra, E, Gosselin, C, Seddiki, O, Hickson, P, Ki Bui, M, Foing, B, Josset, JL, Thibault, S & Van Susante, P 2006, A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole. in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter., 62651U, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 6265 I, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter, Orlando, FL, United States, 5/24/06. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.669994

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abstract = "We have studied the feasibility and scientific potential of a 20 - 100 m aperture astronomical telescope at the lunar pole, with its primary mirror made of spinning liquid at less than 100K. Such a telescope, equipped with imaging and multiplexed spectroscopic instruments for a deep infrared survey, would be revolutionary in its power to study the distant universe, including the formation of the first stars and their assembly into galaxies. The LLMT could be used to follow up discoveries made with the 6 m James Webb Space Telescope, with more detailed images and spectroscopic studies, as well as to detect objects 100 times fainter, such as the first, high-red shift stars in the early universe. Our preliminary analysis based on SMART-1 AMIE images shows ridges and crater rims within 0.5° of the North Pole are illuminated for at least some sun angles during lunar winter. Locations near these points may prove to be ideal for the LLMT. Lunar dust deposited on the optics or in a thin atmosphere could be problematic. An in-situ site survey appears necessary to resolve the dust questions.",

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AB - We have studied the feasibility and scientific potential of a 20 - 100 m aperture astronomical telescope at the lunar pole, with its primary mirror made of spinning liquid at less than 100K. Such a telescope, equipped with imaging and multiplexed spectroscopic instruments for a deep infrared survey, would be revolutionary in its power to study the distant universe, including the formation of the first stars and their assembly into galaxies. The LLMT could be used to follow up discoveries made with the 6 m James Webb Space Telescope, with more detailed images and spectroscopic studies, as well as to detect objects 100 times fainter, such as the first, high-red shift stars in the early universe. Our preliminary analysis based on SMART-1 AMIE images shows ridges and crater rims within 0.5° of the North Pole are illuminated for at least some sun angles during lunar winter. Locations near these points may prove to be ideal for the LLMT. Lunar dust deposited on the optics or in a thin atmosphere could be problematic. An in-situ site survey appears necessary to resolve the dust questions.

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A Lunar Liquid Mirror Telescope (LLMT) for deep-field infrared observations near the lunar pole

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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