Telescope being Built Here on the Island

[LovelyLadyLux]

Our National Research Council/Centre of the Universe which is located on the south Island is building part of the most powerful telescope in the world. Our adaptive optics is building the telescopes 'eye.' Ultimately this telescope is being mounted on top of a mountain in Hawaii but it is being built here and will increase the power of Hubbell Telescope by ten times. Never knew 'til I heard this news clip that our University had an astronomy program.

An interesting 2 minute clip about this telescope but you'll have to cut and paste it.

http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=795233

I find it absolutely fascinating the level of research and development and then actual work that goes into projects such as this.

I think you have to make tools that make tools that make this stuff. Can't even begin to wrap my mind around how minute and technical some of this stuff has to be.

[Kiya]

Interesting ............no need to copy & paste, it opened with one click ....well with me it did

[Horus]

Opened OK for me also
And well done Canada you must be very proud of your countries achievements. I can well remember when my local ‘Radio Telescope’ at Jodrell Bank (I can see it from my home) was the first to detect the Russian ‘Sputnik’ in orbit before the Russians themselves had done so. Technology is moving very fast and I just hope that I live long enough to know the answers as to the origin of our universe.

[LovelyLadyLux]

I'd definitely like to know that too and/or I'd love to know if there are other alive planets and/or if there are other people/space aliens out there.

[Grandad]

Technology moves on SO fast you could be lucky H And engineering to support the technology also has to move on apace.
On Monday a TV program included a clip about a telescope built in the mid 1800's by William Parsons 3rd Earl of Rosse The remains can still be seen at his ancestral home in Birr, Republic of Ireland. That telescope had a 72" mirror, the largest in the world at the time but LLL's link takes astronomy to a level that could not have been imagined by William Parsons.....

[Horus]

Is that the one with the big stone structure that held it up Grandad?

[Grandad]

Yes it is H. Looks positively 'middle ages' by todays standards.

Here is an old picture of 'The Laviathon' as it was called.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Interesting tidbit Grandad. The Leviathon looks aptly named too.!

I had no idea we were making this telescopic eye nor did I know we had a lab on the Island (granted down the south end in the BIG city - actually the capital city of the province - Victoria). I know we made the Space Arm that is up there orbiting earth but I have no idea where that lab is located.

[Horus]

I thought so Grandad, I seem to remember being in Ireland once over and was near to where it is located, but never had time to visit.

[Grandad]

I know we made the Space Arm that is up there orbiting earth

We made one of the astronauts up there orbiting the earth.

GO Tim Peake

[Horus]

Nice one Grandad, although I do remember seeing the Space Station being constructed years ago when visiting Cape Canaveral (ex Kennedy) in Florida

[Grandad]

Having mentioned Tim Peake, he put this picture on FB with this comment 'Hey, I recognise that place!
Looking to the East along the Channel with UK on the left and France on the right. Streetlights from the densely-populated London, Paris and Brussels glow brightly in the centre of the picture.'


I have placed a small red asterisk where I am. I find these pictures from satalites and the space lab fascinating and would absolutely love to be able to go up there.

There are many comments, mostly with a touch of humour, and this one amused me:
'Just so you know Tim, the light flashing on and off in Lincoln is my security light providing a service to all the neighbourhood cats that use my lawn for their ablutions. Apologies if it's putting you off. I'd look at Brussels for a bit as they seem to be working in shifts this evening.'