The Moon Temple, designed as a centerpiece for Moon Base Alpha, could become an icon of a new spacefaring civilization. Moon Temple Looking out at Earth: A United Nations of astronauts gathering inside the temple could collectively map out a new cosmic culture. The Moon Temple could become a unifying symbol for a new universal civilization, he muses. The Moon Temple, he says, “also acts as an observatory, with a liquid mirror telescope.” “About your question of building a permanent base on the Moon,” he said, “I’m not sure if building the Moon Temple will ever happen, or if it’s a good idea even.”