july 2011 - Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
july 2011 - Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
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 />
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