I mentioned before that I took a research trip to the NRAO in Greenbank. The day we left there was the day they got "official" possession of the big dish. During our stay we got a tour of the new wing that was built for running the scope. The walls were shielded with thick lead to keep the computer equipment from interfering with the dishes.
Greenbank lies in the hills of West Virginia, in a radio dark zone. Which just means you won't have much luck getting a radio station in the area. It also means there is a guy whose job it is to drive around with sensors finding leaky microwaves and such to repair. Did you know your leaky microwave could be inhibiting valuable scientific research? The idea just seems hilarious, some guy showing up and offering to fix my leaky stuff.
The scopes are so sensitive you can't drive just any car back the extensive campus where they lie. There is a gate after the main facilities and dormitory that you must pass through to head back there. You are limited to diesel vehicles since the lack spark plugs. Or, if you're feeling adventurous (or were students like us) you can ride a bicycle. Our professor did drive us on occasion, in one of the NRAO's old 1950's cars. I may have a picture of this someplace.
The best thing about radio astronomy is it's lack of certain limitations regular astronomy has. I can do it during the day, at night, or when it's cloudy. Depending on the type of radio dish, there are a mountain of other obstacles to overcome, but everything has it's pro's and con's.
I believe I wrote a length essay on this trip for a college writing class that earned me an A. So, yeah for double positives.
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