Moon-Based Monitoring of the Earth’s Energy Imbalance and Climate, Near-Earth Asteroids and Comets, Potentially Habitable Exoplanets, Supernovae and Novae

Abstract

High-precision data on the Earth’s energy imbalance (EEI) require the creation of long-term fixed space platforms at a sufficient distance from the Earth. The Lunar Observatory (LO) is a single system of two identical special optical robotic telescopes installed along the equator at the opposite edges of the Moon, functioning sequentially as a single telescope. LO provides monitoring of the energy flux of the share of the total solar irradiance (TSI) reflected by the planet within the range of 0.2-4 micron and the outgoing intrinsic thermal radiation of the Earth within the ranges of 4–50 and 8–13 micron continuously during more than 94% of the lunar day. All these data will make it possible to calibrate and determine the dependence of the absolute value of the annual average EEI on cyclical TSI variations, which serves as a reliable indicator for reconstruction EEI variations for the total period of high-precision space TSI measurements since 1978. This will make it possible to reliably reveal the physical mechanisms of formation, reasons, and regularities of climate change on our planet. In the time free of the observations of the Earth LO will also produce a continuous all-sky survey: coordinate-photometric monitoring and study of near-Earth asteroids and comets, particularly moving from the side of the Sun, and also of exoplanets, supernovae and novae within the range of 0.2-2 micron and in its three individual broad bands.