China Chang’e-3 lander Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope (LUT) observed Spiral Galaxy M101 “Pinwheel Galaxy” for International Lunar Observatory Association of Hawai’i, USA on 2 December 2014 at the beginning of the mission's lunar day 13 from the surface of the Moon; the celestial object was chosen to be imaged and data was processed in collaboration with National Astronomical Observatories of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, UH Hilo, CFHT, ILOA Lunar Astronomy Team.
This image reflects major efforts in international collaboration, the scientific importance of Astronomy from the Moon, and innovations in lunar landers, communications and technologies.
Through an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed 4 September 2012 between International Lunar Observatory Association and National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC-CAS), ILOA scientists conducted the M101 galaxy observations with the UV telescope aboard the Chang’e-3 lunar lander and were able to share the image with the public on New Years Day 2015.
In turn, ILOA will be granting observation, data-sharing from its Moon missions with NAOC-CAS.
Apollo 16 Astronomy from the Moon
Astronomy from the Moon was pioneered by Apollo 16 Astronaut John Young (a founding ILOA Director) and Far Ultraviolet Camera / Spectrograph (UVC) invented by Dr. George Carruthers. This image of the southern sky in far UV was taken with UVC in April 1972.