Abstract:

The Moon is a unique platform for fundamental astrophysical
measurements of gravitation, the Sun, and the Universe. Lunar Laser
Ranging of the Earth-Moon distance provides extremely high precision
constraints on General Relativity and alternative models of
gravity. Lacking a permanent ionosphere and, on the farside, shielded
from terrestrial radio emissions, a low frequency (<100 MHz) radio
telescope on the Moon will be an unparalleled observatory for probing
myriad cosmic phenomena from the Sun to the very early
Universe. Crucial stages in the acceleration of high-energy particles
near the Sun, which will be harmful to astronauts exploring beyond the
Earth's immediate environs, can be imaged and tracked with the lunar
radio telescope. The evolution of the Universe during and before the
formation of the first stars, black holes, and quasars can be traced
for the first time with a farside low frequency radio array. The NASA
Lunar Science Institute at the Ames Research Center recently funded a
multi-university center dedicated to the study of Astrophysics from
the Moon and headquartered at the University of Colorado. In this
talk, I will describe how future observatories on the Moon will
explore some of the most exciting problems in astronomy and
astrophysics.

Speaker: Jack Burns
University of Colorado at Boulder

Jack Burns is a Professor in the Department of Astrophysical and
Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado (CU) in Boulder. He
is also Vice President Emeritus for Academic Affairs and Research for
the CU System.
Burns received his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, in Astrophysics from
the University of Massachusetts in 1974. He was awarded an M.S. degree
in 1976 and a Ph.D. in Astronomy in 1978 from Indiana University.
Throughout his career, Burns has held leadership positions in higher
education. From 2001 through 2005 he served as Vice President for
Academic Affairs & Research for the University of Colorado
System. Burns provided leadership in the University's efforts to
promote teaching, research, creative work, technology transfer, and
public service and to champion ethnic and cultural diversity.
From 1997 through 2001, as Vice Provost for Research at the University
of Missouri-Columbia, he was responsible for leadership and
administration of the research and technology development mission of
the university's 12 colleges and 7 interdisciplinary research
centers. As Associate Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at New
Mexico State University, Burns helped to oversee a budget of over $65
million for 23 academic departments and 350 faculty. Burns was
Department Head and Professor in the Department of Astronomy during
construction of the $50 million Apache Point Observatory. He was a
postdoctoral fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory from
1978 to 1980.
Burns has over 350 publications in refereed journals, books,
conference proceedings and abstracts. His research has been featured
in articles and on the covers of Scientific American, Nature, and
Science. His teaching and research focuses on extragalactic astronomy
and cosmology, supercomputer numerical simulations, astrophysics from
the Moon, and public policy issues in higher education and
science. Burns is director of the Lunar University Network for
Astrophysics Research (LUNAR), a $6.5 million center recently awarded
by the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Burns is an elected Fellow of the
American Physical Society and the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. He was recently awarded NASA's Exceptional
Public Service Medal by NASA Administrator Bolden.
Burns is a member of the NASA Advisory Council’s Science Committee and
the American Astronomical Society's Committee on Science and Public
Policy, recently serving as Chair of both committees.