From Garry Marley, Stillwater, Oklahoma, US
Your look at plans for radio telescopes and more on the far side of the moon, shielded from terrestrial electromagnetic clutter, was exciting. However, well before we commit resources to these endeavours, another short-term option is feasible. A radio telescope version of the James Webb Space Telescope, set in a synchronous lunar orbit over the far side, would yield similar data and avoid costly resources, human and robotic labour and that sticky dust encountered on the moon’s surface. Lunar orbits up to 20,000 kilometres high are possible(26 April, p 38).
