Giant Mexican Telescope Launched

SilentOneNCW writes "A new telescope has been unveiled in Mexico by President Vicente Fox. The Large Millimeter Telescope will be used to pick up electromagnetic radiation known as millimetre waves emitted 13 billion years ago, when the first stars burst into existence, astrophysicists say. The $128M telescope is a joint project between Mexico and the US. With an antenna diameter of 164 feet, the LMT dwarfs existing millimetre-wave telescopes and should be able to pick up signals from the faintest objects in outer space."

Comments

This angers me.

[Elandur]

Mexico has much better things they could do with the money. Instead of spending all of that on a telescope program (Which will undoubtedly need a LOT more money for upkeep, operation and maintenance), they should spend it trying to get their people out of poverty. Maybe then they'll stop crossing the border illegally. And as for the US support of the program (The article said it was a joint effort), we should NOT be helping them. Mexicos leadership doesn't give a damn about all of the illegal immigrants coming over here. Until they try to put a stop to it, we shouldn't give them squat. Especially when it's something as trivial as a telescope.

Re:This angers me.

[geekoid]

The in won't be in there best interest to try and prevent there poorest from coming over here.

The support infrastructure for any space program requires higher paid employees, which means more money for spending, which means more jobs.

We should help them get good economical growth. That is the ONLY way to stop ilegal immigration.

As I'm sure you don't relize, illegal imigration is not as bad as people like to spout off about.

Did you know there are farms in new Mexico that pay 10.70 an hour with benefits and they still can't get legal citizens to work there? That they used to be worked by migration laborors that would come out of Mexico during the season and then return to mexico after the season?

The support infrastructure for any space program requires higher paid employees, which means more money for spending, which means more jobs.

And you call yourselves 'geeks' ?

[ChibiOne]

I was surprised to find less than 5 interesting and well-modded comments in this discussion. Most of you just made fun of the misleading headline, the rest made racist comments or criticized the Mexican government for spending funds in scientific research, instead of spening it in "more important things".

While I do agree that there are a lot of problems in Mexico, I also understand that scientific research is key for a country's development. As someone else already pointed out, skilled Mexicans will work at this telscope facilites, further exapnding knowledge and research, supporting the development of even more Mexican scientists.

Also of mention, should you'd read the fscking article, you'd realize it's not a space telescope, but rather a ground-based one.

And, what's with the racist comments? So it's not ok to make ethnic remarks about "african-americans", "native-americans" or "the latino population in the US", but it's perfectly fine to poke at your Mexican neighbors? What a bunch of hypocrats.

To summarize

[oliderid]

If you ever wondered why Americans are considered ignorant and arrogant abroad, just read this thread.

Re:Mexican scientists must be humble

[Simon Garlick]

The reality that an underdeveloped country like Mexico is placing such a high importance on scientific research while the the United States of Jesusland lobotomizes itself really burns, doesn't it? A Third World country is trying to work out how the Universe works while the USA is teaching its children that everything was created by an invisible superhero who lives in the sky.

But don't let me interrupt you. Please continue making jokes about Taco Bell.

Re:Mexican scientists must be humble

[G3CK0]

While I understand the frustration at the idiot comments that have been posted so far, I think you are way off base in regards to the scientific research and education that goes on in the US. If you were too lazy to read the article before responding, the summary even states that the US has supplied funding for this project.

While it is amazing that Mexico has built a new LMT, I feel obligated to remind you of the multiple telescopes the US operates such as Gemini, KECK, NASA IRTF, CSO, SMA, NRAO. These are but a few off the top of my head.