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july 2011 - Astronomical Society of Southern Africa

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canopus <strong>july</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />

Yesterday at Elfordstown Earthstation, Midleton, Co Cork, Minister <strong>of</strong> State for<br />

Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock announced a partnership between the<br />

National Space Centre and Cork Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology (CIT) which will see the dish<br />

start a new life as a telescope. The telescope will be capable <strong>of</strong> detecting a host <strong>of</strong><br />

cosmic phenomena including the emission <strong>of</strong> giant, slow moving hydrogen clouds,<br />

the violent explosions <strong>of</strong> stars, eruptions <strong>of</strong> the solar surface and storms on Jupiter.<br />

It will be the only 32m radio telescope available to primary students for educational<br />

purposes in Europe.<br />

Phase one <strong>of</strong> the project will see the telescope operational by the end <strong>of</strong> this<br />

summer, with feeds available in September via the internet to primary and post<br />

primary schools.<br />

Phase two will occur in 2012 and will involve the refurbishment <strong>of</strong> the dish to enable it<br />

to turn as it originally did and the installation <strong>of</strong> sensors and new receivers. The<br />

project will be co-ordinated and operated by CIT under Dr Niall Smith, head <strong>of</strong><br />

research, and Blackrock Castle Observatory.<br />

Dr Smith said this project will see a €10 million radio telescope brought back to life for<br />

less than €10,000 thanks to the partnership between the National Space Centre and<br />

CIT.<br />

“It’s a great example <strong>of</strong> using world-class infrastructure in the most cost-effective<br />

way to reach out into the community and to embed our growing scientific heritage<br />

alongside our world-renowned culture.<br />

“It will excite students in schools who will get to listen in on the radio signals from outer<br />

space.<br />

“It will be a test bed for engineering and science projects from primary through to<br />

PhD.” The project will benefit education and skills training, and research and<br />

development and provide incomparable hands-on training and research<br />

opportunities for students from primary through to PhD level.<br />

Mr Sherlock said the National Space Centre is already active in European Space<br />

Agency (ESA) programmes including the Galileo Satellite Navigation Programmes.<br />

“Ireland’s ESA membership has contributed to the development <strong>of</strong> a highly<br />

knowledge-intensive industry sector with over 60 Irish technology companies having<br />

secured ESA contracts worth over € 60 million since 2000.<br />

“We expect this number to grow significantly in <strong>2011</strong>,” the Minister added.<br />

page 12

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