The Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) is a proposed giant interferometer on the Moon designed to enhance our understanding of stars and active galactic nuclei.

Led by Dr. Kenneth Carpenter from NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, a recent nine-month feasibility study for AeSI has been completed, supported by NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.

The Moon's stable environment, free from atmospheric interference, enables the use of shorter wavelengths, significantly improving observational capabilities.

AeSI plans to deploy between 15 and 30 optical and ultraviolet-sensitive telescopes in a one-kilometer elliptical array on the lunar surface, utilizing infrastructure from the Artemis missions.

Additionally, AeSI may enhance distance measurements to quasars and offer insights into the cosmological constant through comprehensive studies of active galactic nuclei.

Deployment will involve either astronauts or robots during Artemis missions, with each telescope being a one-meter unit placed on a rover.

By studying star surfaces, AeSI aims to provide insights into magnetic activities, which are crucial for understanding solar dynamics and their effects on planetary habitability.

The mission aspires to achieve groundbreaking scientific milestones, including imaging the surfaces of solar-type stars and resolving regions around active galactic nuclei.

The timeline for AeSI's deployment is linked to the Artemis missions, with the earliest implementation projected for the late 2030s or early 2040s, depending on the development of lunar infrastructure.

The interferometer will also deliver detailed observations of accretion disks around stars and supernovae, thereby contributing to our knowledge of stellar life cycles and explosions.

However, challenges such as lunar dust and seismic activity are anticipated, though the team is confident they can be managed.