Put a gigantic light mill (links) visible from earth on the moon. It doesn't need a glass bulb around because the moon atmosphere is already very thin. Place it at a pole so it gets sunlight most of the time while visible from earth. Watch it spin.
No particular purpose, just to enjoy the glittering blades. To get support from NASA it should be sold as a technical challenge that offers lots of opportunities for commercial spin-off technology.-- kbecker, Apr 07 2004 Lightmill (1) http://www.wundersa...Warmes/Lichtmuehle/ [kbecker, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Lightmill (2) http://math.ucr.edu...ill/light-mill.html [kbecker, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Peak of Eternal Light http://news.bbc.co....ci/tech/3549667.stmPlace here for permanent rotation. [dooper, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004] Begs for a twenty fifth century Don Quixote.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 07 2004 [dooper] That peak would be the ideal place. Perhaps the shaft could be made tall enough so the blades stick out "over" the rim of the moon at new moon and one can see the mill all month round.
[2_fries] Would of course fight with a laser lance. One could do that from earth to save the space suite for the horse. Hits by laser light would be marked by faster or slower rotation of the mill (Sancho Pansa is faithful Stopwatch carrier to time RPM).-- kbecker, Apr 08 2004 random, halfbakery