Astronomical Optical Interferometry from the Lunar Surface
Abstract
The lunar surface is a compelling location for large, distributed optical facilities, with significant advantages over orbital facilities for high spatial resolution astrophysics. The serious development of mission concepts is timely because of the confluence of multiple compelling factors. Lunar access technology is maturing rapidly, in the form of both US-based crewed and uncrewed landers, as well as international efforts. Associated with this has been a definitive maturation of astronomical optical interferometry technologies at Earth-based facilities over the past three decades, enabling exquisitely sharp views on the universe previously unattainable, though limited at present by the Earth's atmosphere. Importantly, the increasing knowledge and experience base about lunar surface operations indicates it is not just suitable, but highly attractive for lunar telescope arrays.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2510.24901,
title = {Astronomical Optical Interferometry from the Lunar Surface},
author = {Gerard van Belle and Tabetha Boyajian and Michelle Creech-Eakman and John Elliott and Kimberly Ennico-Smith and Dan Hillsberry and Kevin Hubbard and Takahiro Ito and Shri Kulkarni and Connor Langford and Laura Lee and David Leisawitz and Eric Mamajek and May Martin and Taro Matsuo and Dimitri Mawet and John Monnier and Jon Morse and Dave Mozurkewich and Paul Niles and Mark Panning and Lori Pigue and Aniket Sanghi and Gail Schaefer and Jeremy Scott and Stuart Shaklan and Locke Spencer and Aaron Tohuvavohu and Peter Tuthill and Karel Valenta and Jordan Wachs},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.24901},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
115 pages, Study Report from 18-22 Nov 2024 Workshop hosted at the Caltech Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS)