Italy plans to build a telescope on the moon to expand its knowledge of the universe, the Italian News Agency ANSA says.

The telescope will be built by robots and positioned in a lunar crater to give a new perspective on the Earth, Sergio Vetrella, head of the Italian space agency, said.

The first robots will be sent up 2010-12, Vetrella said.

The space agency has earmarked about $180 million for the project, the Chinese news agency Xinhuanet reported.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International