BBC Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3749919.stm
the jist:
Work has started to use optical fibres to link up the giant radio telescope at Jodrell Bank with five others that are scattered across England.
The telescopes comprise an array called Merlin that combines the data from each so they perform as a larger telescope.
The telescopes are currently linked by microwaves but replacing them with optical fibres will be a revolution.
The new project, e-Merlin, will be a massive leap in Jodrell's ability to look out into space, astronomers say.
Seeing the light
Connecting the array of radio telescopes with optical fibres will transform what is already a world-class facility.
"Merlin is the first to be making this leap forward with optical fibres," says its director Professor Phil Diamond.
The interconnected array of radio telescopes - Merlin stands for Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interfometer Network - centred on the Cheshire observatory has been a remarkable scientific success.
Since 1980, it has provided detailed images of objects ranging from the closest stars to the most distant objects in the Universe.
sounds pretty damn impressive to me, even the bit about how they are currently linked up with microwaves...man thats alot of cooking!
the jist:
Work has started to use optical fibres to link up the giant radio telescope at Jodrell Bank with five others that are scattered across England.
The telescopes comprise an array called Merlin that combines the data from each so they perform as a larger telescope.
The telescopes are currently linked by microwaves but replacing them with optical fibres will be a revolution.
The new project, e-Merlin, will be a massive leap in Jodrell's ability to look out into space, astronomers say.
Seeing the light
Connecting the array of radio telescopes with optical fibres will transform what is already a world-class facility.
"Merlin is the first to be making this leap forward with optical fibres," says its director Professor Phil Diamond.
The interconnected array of radio telescopes - Merlin stands for Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interfometer Network - centred on the Cheshire observatory has been a remarkable scientific success.
Since 1980, it has provided detailed images of objects ranging from the closest stars to the most distant objects in the Universe.
sounds pretty damn impressive to me, even the bit about how they are currently linked up with microwaves...man thats alot of cooking!
