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Astronomical Optical Interferometry from the Lunar Surface
Authors:
Gerard van Belle,
Tabetha Boyajian,
Michelle Creech-Eakman,
John Elliott,
Kimberly Ennico-Smith,
Dan Hillsberry,
Kevin Hubbard,
Takahiro Ito,
Shri Kulkarni,
Connor Langford,
Laura Lee,
David Leisawitz,
Eric Mamajek,
May Martin,
Taro Matsuo,
Dimitri Mawet,
John Monnier,
Jon Morse,
Dave Mozurkewich,
Paul Niles,
Mark Panning,
Lori Pigue,
Aniket Sanghi,
Gail Schaefer,
Jeremy Scott
, et al. (6 additional authors not shown)
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 we…
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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.
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Submitted 28 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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Large-scale cryovolcanic resurfacing on Pluto
Authors:
Kelsi N. Singer,
Oliver L. White,
Bernard Schmitt,
Erika L. Rader,
Silvia Protopapa,
William M. Grundy,
Dale P. Cruikshank,
Tanguy Bertrand,
Paul M. Schenk,
William B. McKinnon,
S. Alan Stern,
Rajani D. Dhingra,
Kirby D. Runyon,
Ross A. Beyer,
Veronica J. Bray,
Cristina Dalle Ore,
John R. Spencer,
Jeffrey M. Moore,
Francis Nimmo,
James T. Keane,
Leslie A. Young,
Catherine B. Olkin,
Tod R. Lauer,
Harold A. Weaver,
Kimberly Ennico-Smith
Abstract:
The New Horizons spacecraft returned images and compositional data showing that terrains on Pluto span a variety of ages, ranging from relatively ancient, heavily cratered areas to very young surfaces with few-to-no impact craters. One of the regions with very few impact craters is dominated by enormous rises with hummocky flanks. Similar features do not exist anywhere else in the imaged solar sys…
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The New Horizons spacecraft returned images and compositional data showing that terrains on Pluto span a variety of ages, ranging from relatively ancient, heavily cratered areas to very young surfaces with few-to-no impact craters. One of the regions with very few impact craters is dominated by enormous rises with hummocky flanks. Similar features do not exist anywhere else in the imaged solar system. Here we analyze the geomorphology and composition of the features and conclude this region was resurfaced by cryovolcanic processes, of a type and scale so far unique to Pluto. Creation of this terrain requires multiple eruption sites and a large volume of material (>104 km^3) to form what we propose are multiple, several-km-high domes, some of which merge to form more complex planforms. The existence of these massive features suggests Pluto's interior structure and evolution allows for either enhanced retention of heat or more heat overall than was anticipated before New Horizons, which permitted mobilization of water-ice-rich materials late in Pluto's history.
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Submitted 13 July, 2022;
originally announced July 2022.
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Origins Space Telescope Mission Concept Study Report
Authors:
M. Meixner,
A. Cooray,
D. Leisawitz,
J. Staguhn,
L. Armus,
C. Battersby,
J. Bauer,
E. Bergin,
C. M. Bradford,
K. Ennico-Smith,
J. Fortney,
T. Kataria,
G. Melnick,
S. Milam,
D. Narayanan,
D. Padgett,
K. Pontoppidan,
A. Pope,
T. Roellig,
K. Sandstrom,
K. Stevenson,
K. Su,
J. Vieira,
E. Wright,
J. Zmuidzinas
, et al. (44 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The Origins Space Telescope (Origins) traces our cosmic history, from the formation of the first galaxies and the rise of metals to the development of habitable worlds and present-day life. Origins does this through exquisite sensitivity to infrared radiation from ions, atoms, molecules, dust, water vapor and ice, and observations of extra-solar planetary atmospheres, protoplanetary disks, and lar…
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The Origins Space Telescope (Origins) traces our cosmic history, from the formation of the first galaxies and the rise of metals to the development of habitable worlds and present-day life. Origins does this through exquisite sensitivity to infrared radiation from ions, atoms, molecules, dust, water vapor and ice, and observations of extra-solar planetary atmospheres, protoplanetary disks, and large-area extragalactic fields. Origins operates in the wavelength range 2.8 to 588 microns and is 1000 times more sensitive than its predecessors due to its large, cold (4.5 K) telescope and advanced instruments.
Origins was one of four large missions studied by the community with support from NASA and industry in preparation for the 2020 Decadal Survey in Astrophysics. This is the final study report.
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Submitted 23 December, 2019; v1 submitted 12 December, 2019;
originally announced December 2019.