Daily Image
18-05-2009
LOFAR et Emergo
| Submitter: | Peter Bennema |
| Description: | The title of this picture is a variation on "Luctor et Emergo" (I struggle and emerge), the heraldic motto of Zeeland, our most watery province. Until very recently, this was a rather dismal plain of agricultural land, dissected by a depressingly straight ditch. Now, slowly, the world's largest radio telescope is being sculpted from the landscape, while the ditch has been morphed into a gaily meandering creek, teeming with uniquely indiginous wildlife. The flat circular feature in the background, surrounded by a moat with a diameter of 333m, is the LOFAR core. Eventually, it will be invested with radio antennae of two different kinds, sensitive to the farthest reaches of the Universe. Careful scrutiny will also reveal some other areas which are being leveled to accomodate "stations" with smaller numbers of antennae (see also the image of May 12th). Such stations will be placed at increasing distance from the core, until LOFAR spans most of Europe. Core and stations transmit their signals by means of optical fibers to a central IBM Blue Gene super-computer in Groningen. Radio astronomers and defenders of nature are natural allies, and ASTRON has a long tradition in this respect. For instance, the radio-quiet zones around the Dwingeloo and Westerbork radio telescopes are among the last few places in the Netherlands where humans and other animals are mercifully free of traffic noise, and obnoxious machines like leaf-blowers. Continuing this tradition, and in close collaboration with nature enthousiasts, the LOFAR core and inner stations will be embedded in a lovely nature reserve, which will have various water features. The white thingies in the foreground constitute a "fish stairs". |
| Copyright: | topfoto (assen) |
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