scholarly journals Advanced Technology Lunar Astronomy Mission, the Moon as an Immense Optical Bench in Vacuum

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 990-991
Author(s):  
Peter C. Chen ◽  
Yoji Kondo ◽  
Ronald J. Oliversen
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Optical Bench ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Atmospheric Absorption ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Small Telescope ◽  
Apollo Mission ◽  
Primary Obstacle

The Moon combines some of the most attractive features for astronomical observations from space (no atmospheric absorption, perfect seeing, etc.) and those from ground (large steady optical bench, ease of control from Earth, etc.). Astronomers have planned for telescopes on the Moon for decades but, due to its primary obstacle – high cost – they have not yet been built, save one small telescope that was carried to the Moon on an Apollo mission.

Radio astronomical observations of the occulatation of the Crab nebula by the Moon on January 26, 1983

Astrophysics ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 503-507
Author(s):  
M. I. Agafonov ◽  
A. M. Aslanyan ◽  
A. P. Barabanov ◽  
I. T. Bubukin ◽  
A. G. Gulyan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crab Nebula ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
The Crab Nebula

scholarly journals A Study of Lunar Microwave Radiation Based on Satellite Observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Yang ◽  
Martin Burgdorf
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Microwave Remote Sensing ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Lunar Phase ◽  
Phase Lag ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Microwave Sounding

In recent years, the study of microwave radiation from the Moon’s surface has been of interest to the astronomy and remote sensing communities. Due to the stable geophysical properties of the Moon’s surface, microwave lunar radiation is highly predictable and can be accurately modeled, given sufficient observations from reliable instruments. Specifically, for microwave remote sensing study, if International System of Unit (SI) traceable observations of the Moon are available, the Moon can thus be used as an SI traceable calibration reference for microwave instruments to evaluate their calibration accuracies and assess their long-term calibration stabilities. Major challenges of using the Moon as a radiometric source standard for microwave sensors include the uncertainties in antenna pattern measurements, the reliability of measurements of brightness temperature (Tb) in the microwave spectrum of the lunar surface, and knowledge of the lunar phase lag because of penetration depths at different detection frequencies. Most microwave-sounding instruments can collect lunar radiation data from space-view observations during so-called lunar intrusion events that usually occur several days each month. Addressed in this work based on Moon observations from the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit/Microwave Humidity Sounder are two major issues in lunar calibration: the lunar surface microwave Tb spectrum and phase lag. The scientific objective of this study is to present our most recent progress on the study of lunar microwave radiation based on satellite observations. Reported here are the lunar microwave Tb spectrum and phase lag from 23 to 183 GHz based on observations of microwave-sounding instruments onboard different satellite platforms. For current Moon microwave radiation research, this study can help toward better understanding lunar microwave radiation features over a wide spectrum range, laying a solid foundation for future lunar microwave calibration efforts.

The Astronomical Basis of Egyptian Chronology of the Second Millennium BC

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Huber
Keyword(s):  
Solar Eclipse ◽  
Near East ◽  
The Other ◽  
Ancient Near East ◽  
New Kingdom ◽  
Middle Kingdom ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Counter Argument ◽  
Unique Match

Abstract Egyptian dates are widely used for fixing the chronologies of surrounding countries in the Ancient Near East. But the astronomical basis of Egyptian chronology is shakier than generally assumed. The moon dates of the Middle and New Kingdom are here re-examined with the help of experiences gained from Babylonian astronomical observations. The astronomical basis of the chronology of the New Kingdom is at best ambiguous. The conventional date of Thutmose III’s year 1 in 1479 BC agrees with the raw moon dates, but it has been argued by several Egyptologists that those dates should be amended by one day, and then the unique match is 1504 BC. The widely accepted identification of a moon date in year 52 of Ramesses II, which leads to an accession of Ramesses II in 1279 BC, is by no means certain. In my opinion that accession year remains nothing more than one of several possibilities. If one opts for a shortened Horemhab reign, dating Ramesses II to 1290 BC gives a better compromise chronology. But the most convincing astronomical chronology is a long one: Ramesses II in 1315 BC, Thutmose III in 1504 BC. It is favored by Amarna-Hittite synchronisms and a solar eclipse in the time of Muršili II. The main counter-argument is that this chronology is at least 10–15 years higher than what one calculates from the Assyrian King List and the Kassite synchronisms. For the Middle Kingdom on the other hand, among the disputed dates of Sesostris III and Amenemhet III one combination turns out to be reasonably secure: Sesostris III’s year 1 in 1873/72 BC and Amenemhet III’s 30 years later.

scholarly journals VIII. Astronomical observations. In two letters from M. Francis de Zach, Professor of Mathematics, and Member of the Royal Academies of Sciences at Marseilles, Dijon, and Lyons, to Mr. Tiberius Cavallo, F. R. S

1785 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 137-152
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Vernal Equinox ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Pendulum Clock ◽  
Jupiter’S Satellites

Sir, I send you the account of the observations on the eclipse of the moon, which I have made together with the rev. Father Le Fevre, Astronomer at Lyons, in the Observatory called au grand Collège ; to which I shall add the observations of the vernal equinox; some observation son Jupiter's satellites, made at Marseilles by M. Saint Jacques de Sylvabelle; and, lastly, a new solution of a problem that occurs in computing the orbits of comets. If you think that these observations do in any way deserve the notice of the Royal Society, I ascertain the going of the pendulum clock, I took several corresponding altitudes of the sun, which you will find in the following table.On the day of the eclipse the sky was very serene, nothing could be finer, and it continued so during the observation.

scholarly journals Archaeoastronomical Aspects of the Archaeological Monuments of Siberia

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (1 and 2) ◽  
pp. 109-117
Author(s):  
Leonid Marsadolov
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
The North ◽  
Ancient People ◽  
Celestial Bodies ◽  
Night Sky

The necessity of astronomical observations for nomadic peoples of Eurasia was based on the sacral meaning of time. The celestial bodies, the Sun and the Moon were parts of cult of the Sky. During annual migrations, in particular those where there were no reliable landmarks, nomads navigated with the North Star and the main constellations of the night sky. Remains left by these nomads, including rock pictures, barrows and observation posts are the legacy of a complex, organised system reflecting the relations of ancient people with the cosmos.

scholarly journals Occultation of Planets by the Moon in European Narrative Medieval Sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-220
Author(s):  
María José Martínez Usó ◽  
Francisco J. Marco Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Historical Context ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Calculation Of Parameters ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Medieval Europe ◽  
The World ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Shed Light

Existing research dealing with astronomical observations from medieval Europe have extensively covered topics such as solar and lunar eclipses and sightings of comets and meteors, but no compilation of occultations of planets by the Moon has been carried out and, till now, the data have remained scattered in different publications. The main reasons for this are the small number of observations that has reached us, their limited use for calculation of parameters associated with the rotation of the Earth, and the fact that between the fifth and fifteenth centuries, the period that we consider, almost none of these observations were made scientifically, since they usually appear in narrative texts, be they chronicles or annals. Our purpose is to make a compilation of these phenomena, trying to shed light on some of the most controversial observations after examining them in their historical context. We will examine European sources, but, occasionally, we will also consider reports from other parts of the world to make comparisons, when necessary.

scholarly journals Astronomy from a Lunar Base

1995 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 347-350
Author(s):  
S. Volonte
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Particle Spectrum ◽  
Human Intervention ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Very Low Frequency ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Universe

The Moon is generally considered to be an ideal site for astronomy, offering excellent observing conditions and access to the entire electromagnetic and particle spectrum. A wide range of astronomical observations can be carried out from the Moon, but, as concluded in a recent ESA study (Mission to the Moon 1992), only a restricted number could be better implemented from a lunar site rather than from any other location. Very low frequency (VLF) astronomy, astrometry and interferometry fall into this category, as well as a transit telescope to map dark matter in the Universe. Whilst VLF and astrometric telescopes should be automatic, long baseline interferometers will probably require human intervention and will thus benefit from a manned lunar base.

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