The most powerful radiotelescope yet devised is to be built on the Moon, under plans being put together by Nasa for its 2018 lunar mission.Mike Griffin, the head of the US space agency, said the construction of a telescope is being “factored into” the mission.

It is intended to push forward the exploration of space and, eventually, help to identify how mankind can reach other planets in and outside the solar system.

A radiotelescope on the Moon would offer astronomers and physicists an unrivalled opportunity to see farther into the cosmos than ever before and in more detail.  More