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Earth's Radio Telescopes Combining Forces

Posted by samzenpus on from the dark-side-of-the-moon dept.

Slatterz writes "I own a basic 70mm telescope, which I'm sure Galileo would have given his right arm for in 1609. In fact, this year marks exactly 400 years since Galileo first pointed a telescope at the skies — discovering the moons of Jupiter and helping to prove that the universe doesn't revolve around us. As a mark of respect, the United Nations has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. Official festivities kick off this week in Paris and, to help start the celebrations, 17 radio telescopes in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas will track three quasars using something called "real-time Very Long Baseline Interferometry" — basically creating hi-res images by combining their data to simulate a telescope as large as the Earth. Sounds cool."

10 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. And to kickstart the celebrations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    the United Nations has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. Official festivities kick off this week in Paris and, to help start the celebrations ... a giant light display and a firework!

    1. Re:And to kickstart the celebrations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      2009: The year of the Astronomy Desktop...

      Ups, sorry! ;)

    2. Re:And to kickstart the celebrations by Luminary+Crush · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...which, of course, would not affect my radio telescope at all. But could you please turn off your phone!

    3. Re:And to kickstart the celebrations by Normal+Dan · · Score: 2, Funny

      So what other downsides are there?

      I can't cause mischief as easily.

      --
      A unique way to learn a language: http://languageloom.com
  2. A telescope as large as the Earth by dimethylxanthine · · Score: 2, Funny

    And hopefully they don't screw up the metric/imperial/coordinate whatever units are used across the world and its back and point in the right direction. You wouldn't want to upset Galileo on this date...

    1. Re:A telescope as large as the Earth by Darby · · Score: 2, Funny

      After all, using an IR or Radio telescope is different than using an optical one.

      Most of the differences are in how they're built though, and using them is pretty much the same, right?

      I mean once they're built, you just point the big end around the sky. With the optical ones you look through the little end, with the radio ones, you put your ear on the little end, and with the IR ones, you put..I dunno, something you want to warm up.... a TV dinner or something on the little end. Astrology isn't so hard.

  3. Stop calling the man by his first name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Have some respect and call him Galilei. Do people say "Albert's theory of relativity"?

  4. Re:If you want ot get in the hobby. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dont get a crappy scope.

    you will see things that the guys that have the cheap crap cant.

    you will also have a crapload more light gathering

    it works fantastic and does not have the crapload of problems and poor viewing that anythign smaller would have.

    Also if it can be bought from walmart or radio shack or even elder beerman, it's crap.

    You seem to have a "crap" fetish. 2 girls 1 reflector?

  5. Galileo Thinks Your Gear Sucks by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 1, Funny

    "I own a basic 70mm telescope, which I'm sure Galileo would have given his right arm for in 1609.

    Considering he gave up his sight to use the dinky little thing he owned, the fact that he'd only give up his right arm doesn't say much about your telescope.

  6. At sea? by Civil_Disobedient · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well if you have money take your telescope and get out to sea somewhere.

    Yeah, and you can bring a grandfather clock to keep time. And if you're bored, you can bring along a Jenga set. Everyone loves boat Jenga.