Very Low Frequency Radio Astronomy from Lunar Orbit

by Nebojsa Duric, Univ of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA,
Jack O. Burns, Univ of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space IV

Abstract:

This paper discusses the use of very low frequency aperture synthesis as a probe of astrophysical phenomena. Specifically, the science achievable with the Lunar Observer Radio Astronomy Experiment (LORAE) that cannot be performed optimally from the Earth. The density distribution and the degree of turbulence of the galactic plasma can be determined from its effect on background radio sources. These same absorption phenomena can be used to determine magnetic field strengths within astrophysical plasma. Detection of unabsorbed synchrotron emission can provide information on the relativistic plasma component. The detection of new pulsars may prove feasible because of their steep spectra.

Subject Headings: Moon | Astronomy | Space exploration | Magnetic fields | Aerospace engineering | Turbulence | Telescopes

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