A Radio Telescope for Ireland
Introduction
A state-of-the-art radio telescope would represent a cutting-edge research facility in Ireland, providing challenges and opportunities for Irish scientisits, astronomers and engineers, and ensuring that Ireland remains in the forefront of our rapidly changing technological world. Because of the island's geographical location at the Northwestern edge of Europe, an Irish Radio telescope would be uniquely positioned to enhance the resolution and quality of radio images obtained via joint observations with other telescopes in the UK (the MERLIN array) and across Europe (the European VLBI Network.) The presence of such a facility in Ireland would also stimulate our children's interest in science, technology and the natural world, and enable educational activities designed to actively involve school children in the excitement of scienctific research.
Radio (left) and optical (right) images of a jet emerging from the nucleus of the galaxy 3C264. The source of energy for the rapidly flowing stream of particles is a supermassive black hole at the galactic centre.
32-m radio telescope of the Italian Istituto di Radioastronomia of the Island of Sicily.
A Radio Telescope
- sees the Universe in radio waves, invisible to our eyes, broading our view of the skies
- allows us to study stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects that cannot otherwise be seen
- employs a wide range of cutting-edge technologies
- does not radiate energy, and is completely harmless to animal and plant life
- can operate day or night, rain or shine