Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting thermal emissions from the new moon, wherein the new moon is positioned at an angle of less than about 5 degrees from the Sun. The invention utilizes a radio telescope, wherein a side-lobe level of the radio telescope is less than about ?20 dB, wherein an effective telescope diameter of the radio telescope depends on a wavelength of operation. Further, a FWHM beamwidth of the radio telescope is less than about 0.5 degree. The method comprises setting one or more of the operating frequency of the radio telescope to a value selected from the range of about 1 GHz and about 100 GHz, and the operating bandwidth of the radio telescope to a value selected from the range of about 1 GHz and about 10 GHz. In addition, the method comprises collecting at least one observation from the radio telescope.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting thermal emissions from the new moon, wherein the new moon is positioned at an angle of less than about 5 degrees from the Sun. The invention utilizes a radio telescope, wherein a side-lobe level of the radio telescope is less than about ?20 dB, wherein an effective telescope diameter of the radio telescope depends on a wavelength of operation. Further, a FWHM beamwidth of the radio telescope is less than about 0.5 degree. The method comprises setting one or more of the operating frequency of the radio telescope to a value selected from the range of about 1 GHz and about 100 GHz, and the operating bandwidth of the radio telescope to a value selected from the range of about 1 GHz and about 10 GHz. In addition, the method comprises collecting at least one observation from the radio telescope.