Looking out to space

An opening at the top of the lunar temple, peering out to deep space, lined up with a 'liquid mirror telescope', kept spinning to maintain an optimal parabolic shape. A special liquid with an extremely low evaporation rate would be used, benefiting from the Moon's low gravity. This telescope would allow visitors to gaze into the oldest and most distant objects in the universe.The temple has a communal forum with several levels to be used for cultural and ritual activities. Three horizontal cuts on the upper side of the dome allow natural light to illuminate the temple. Artist Jorge Mañes Rubio, part of ESA’s future-oriented Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), has designed a place of contemplation to serve a future lunar settlement. It would be built on the sunlit rim of 21-km diameter Shackleton Crater, which is bathed much of the time in sunlight while overlooking a 4.2 km-deep interior mired in perpetual shadow. An app allowing people to virtually experience the Shackleton Crater environment for themselves is being finalised, meanwhile an animation is already available.