When Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian astronaut, embarks on the Artemis 2 mission beyond the moon, he will have the unique task of observing the far side of the moon, which remains unseen from Earth. Meanwhile, scientists on Earth are closely monitoring these observations as they plan to send telescopes and robots to explore this mysterious side of the moon in the future.
Unlike the near side of the moon, which features large flat plains known as “Maria,” the far side is characterized by a rough, crater-filled surface. Despite being commonly referred to as the dark side, it receives as much sunlight as the side facing Earth. This secluded area is shielded from Earth’s artificial radio noise, making it an ideal location for astronomers to set up radio telescopes.
During the Artemis mission, Hansen will have a rare opportunity to witness sights unseen by many humans since the Apollo era. He will travel 7,500 kilometers beyond the moon, granting him a view of the entire globe, a perspective that was not available to the Apollo astronauts who only orbited close to the moon’s equatorial regions.
The Artemis crew will conduct detailed observations of the lunar surface during their flyby. The human eye can discern subtle details that cameras might miss, such as variations in color or shades of grey, which can provide valuable insights into ground conditions that could impact future spacecraft landings.
One of the proposed missions to the far side involves the TSUKUYOMI, or Lunar Meter Wave Telescope, which aims to place radio dishes on the lunar far side to study the universe’s early days during the dark ages. By detecting faint radio signals from neutral hydrogen gas that existed before the formation of stars and galaxies, researchers hope to uncover the role of dark matter in shaping the evolution of the universe.
Future plans include deploying additional observatories on the moon, such as LuSEE Night from the University of Boulder Colorado and NASA’s Farside Seismic Suite, to further explore the far side. These initiatives, along with ongoing efforts by NASA and ESA, seek to enhance our understanding of the moon and the universe.
While human missions focus on establishing a lunar colony and investigating water ice at the south pole, robotic observatories on the far side will delve into the mysteries of the universe’s origins, offering a unique perspective on cosmic evolution.
