---
title: "Russia Wants to Build an Observatory on the Moon"
description: "Roscosmos announced plans to build an observatory on its planned Moon base so that it can better spot potentially dangerous asteroids approaching Earth."
date: "2019-12-02"
modified: "2019-12-02"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-wants-to-build-an-observatory-on-the-moon"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "Science & Energy"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "asteroids"
  - "moon base"
  - "Russia"
  - "space"
  - "the digest"
---

# Russia Wants to Build an Observatory on the Moon

![Roscosmos announced plans to build an observatory on its planned Moon base so that it can better spot potentially dangerous asteroids approaching Earth.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/russia-wants-to-build-an-observatory-on-the-moon.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Roscosmos\</em\>*

## Eyes Up

Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, wants to build an observatory on the Moon's south pole that'd keep an eye out for any asteroids on a [collision course](<https://futurism.com/tabloid-killer-asteroids-every-day>) with Earth.

Russia has long planned on [setting up a base](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-planning-3d-print-moon-base>) on the Moon, a goal it shares [with China](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-ten-years-have-moon-base>) and [the U.S.](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-lunar-outpost>) Now, the [state media agency *TASS*](<https://tass.com/science/1092363>) says that the outpost will include a series of telescopes to help the country better track any space rock hazards.

## Expanding Outward

Russia has been scanning for asteroids that come in close proximity to Earth since 2016, according to *TASS*. The lunar outpost is supposed to supplement that existing system by extending its reach to deep space.

Roscosmos Executive Director for Science and Long-Term Programs Alexander Bloshenko told *TASS* that the idea was to get a better understanding of any dangerous asteroids en route to Earth.

"There are plans to install equipment on this \[lunar\] base to study deep space and special telescopes to track asteroids and comets that pose a danger of their collision with Earth," he said.

**READ MORE:** [Russian space agency plans to place telescopes on Moon to track dangerous asteroids](<https://tass.com/science/1092363>) \[*TASS*\]

**More on Russia's Moon base:** *[Russia Is Planning to 3D Print a Moon Base](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/russia-planning-3d-print-moon-base>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)