Date:10/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/10/stories/2006021002671300.htm

Back U.R. Rao moots observatory on moon

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , Feb 9

AN observatory on the moon will give a great boost to space research and an international commission has been constituted for the purpose of setting up one, according to Prof U.R. Rao, former ISRO Chairman.

He was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the three-day National Space Science Symposium, which began at Andhra University on Thursday.

Prof Rao said that the cost of setting up an observatory on the moon would roughly be $100 million.

"It is not a huge sum. The benefits of having such an observatory far outweigh the cost. We can have a clear glimpse of the space, as there is no atmosphere and dust on the moon. The main problem with observatories on earth is that the atmosphere and dust cloud our vision of the space."

He added that the setting up of such an observatory would pose no technical problems.

Referring to India's lunar mission, Chadrayan, he said that it should be welcomed.

"Very little is known about the moon even after more than 20 lunar missions. The Russians and the Americans started it. We may still have the last word on lunar research, though we are late starters."