Contest #139 answer: Very Large Telescope, Cerro Paranal, Chile

The Paranal Observatory is an ESO facility, located at the 2635 m high Cerro Paranal, Chile. The main observatory is the Very  Large Telescope, a cluster of four optical telescopes with a 8.2m mirror and four smaller Auxiliary Telescopes. Together they can act as a very sensitive interferometer.

paranal

The Atacama Desert is believed to be the driest place on earth which makes it a very suitable place for an optical telescope.

paranal-1

Those looking down on others who are looking up:

  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Willem
  • hhgygy
  • Paul Franson
  • Dennis S.
  • lardarz
  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • rsimmon
  • Lori Simpson
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Andy McConnell
  • Camargo, California
  • ACG
  • David Kozina
  • brian t
  • Andy M, USA
  • Aaron Predeek
  • Taliesin
  • Max_Power
  • Sarah G

Contest #138 answer: Lovell telescope, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK.

The Jodrell Bank Observatory was established in 1939 and is part of the University of Manchester in the UK.

The main telescope at this site is the Lovell Telescope and is among the largest steerable radio telescopes in the world.

lovell

It was constructed in 1955 and has a diameter of 76.2 m (250 ft). Is was upgraded in 2002 and still plays a major role in new discoveries.

Those who steerded to the right direction:

  • brian t
  • hhgygy
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Willem
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Paul Franson
  • David Kozina
  • ACG
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Andy McConnell
  • lardarz
  • Andy Murdock
  • Tim Craig
  • Andy M, USA
  • Camargo, California
  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Exsanguinator
  • Graham Foxall
  • Max_Power
  • Jan_Vergouwe
  • Dennis S.
  • Aaron Predeek
  • ewen
  • Taliesin

Contest #137 answer: Very Large Array, New Mexico

If bigger is better, this must be the ultimate pair of ears, listening to the universe. The radio telescope at Arecibo (contest #134) is the largest single disc telescope, this Very Large Array, consisting of 27 independent 25 m. (82 ft) antennas can be configured to act as a single dish with a diameter of 36 km. (22.3 miles).

vla

The array was constructed between 1973 and 1976, was funded by the USA government and is operated by the NRAO.

Gary has some nice pictures of this facility on his travel picture blog.

vla_gary

Those with their ears wide open:

  • Andy McConnell
  • David S
  • ACG
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Dennis S.
  • Paul Franson
  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Jan_Vergouwe
  • hhgygy
  • BroderUlf
  • jeffrey
  • lardarz
  • Sarah G
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Thomas Egan
  • Willem
  • David Kozina
  • BobB

Contest #136 answer: Mount Graham Observatory, Arizona

On the highest mountain of the Pinaleño Mountains in Arizona, the Large Binoculair Telescope is situated. It is part of the Mount Graham International Observatory and the combined mirrors are effectively as sharp as a single 75 ft telescope.

lbt

Those who used both eyes:

  • hhgygy
  • Jan_Vergouwe
  • Paul Franson
  • ACG
  • Dennis S.
  • Aaron Predeek
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • lardarz
  • Andy McConnell
  • Keith
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • David Kozina
  • Andy M, USA
  • Max_Power
  • Ivar Bonsaksen