What makes an ideal Moon base?

Optical telescopes would also be more useful, or at
least more easily serviced, than ones in orbit. Being on
fixed ground would make large arrays more feasible than
in space.

Low gravity and vacuum should make large structures
possible - but the day/night (sun/shadow) temperature
extremes would present challenges.

Stick it in a part of a deep crater that's always in shadow?
(Might be easier near the poles I suppose.)


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Putting it too deep in a crater would limit the field of view. Even with one
in a crater at EACH pole they would be unable to view the (local) celestial
equator unless they were high enough to no longer be in the permanent shadow
that would be the reason for choosing those craters.

"Fleetie" wrote in message
...
Optical telescopes would also be more useful, or at
least more easily serviced, than ones in orbit. Being on
fixed ground would make large arrays more feasible than
in space.

Low gravity and vacuum should make large structures
possible - but the day/night (sun/shadow) temperature
extremes would present challenges.

Stick it in a part of a deep crater that's always in shadow?
(Might be easier near the poles I suppose.)


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk