[P-PS06] Lunar Science and Exploration

[PPS06-10] A Conceptual Study on Lunar Astronomical Observatory to Realize a Meter-Wave Radio Interferometer

*Takahiro Iwata¹, Fuminori Tsuchiya², Toru Yamada¹, Naoki Isobe¹, Yutaro Sekimoto¹, Yasuyuki Miyazaki¹, Naoto Usami¹, Satoru Iguchi³, Keitaro Takahashi⁴, Toshikazu Onishi⁵, Daisuke Yamauchi⁶ (1.Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 2.Tohoku University, 3.National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 4.Kumamoto University, 5.Osaka Metropolitan University, 6.Kanagawa University)

Keywords:lunar astronomical observatory, radio interferometer

The highly accurate observation in the lower frequency band below about 10 MHz is yet to be realized, so that this range is remarkable as one of the last frontiers for astronomy. This is mainly because that the terrestrial ionosphere prevents us from observing radio waves below the ionospheric cut-off frequency on the ground. It is, moreover, difficult to observe the faint radio waves from planets and celestial objects even on the earth's orbit because of the interference caused by solar bursts, artificial noises and terrestrial aurora emissions. The lunar far-side is a suitable site for such the lower frequency astronomical observations because noises from the Earth can always be avoided and radio waves from the Sun can be shielded during the lunar night.
One of the major targets of the astronomy on the lunar far-side is to realize the first detection of the 21-cm line of the neutral hydrogen from, so cold, the dark age of the universe. Emissions from extrasolar planets are also expected to be observed. In this paper, we report the progress of a conceptual study on a lunar astronomical observatory consisting of meter-wave radio interferometer on the lunar far-side. This observatory targets beyond 100 antennas extended to the maximum baseline of more than 100km, which provides the spatial resolution of about 1 arc-min at 10 MHz. We will also report about the feasibility study of the first-step pilot probe with three antenna units.