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22-07-2013
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Who knows what LOFAR is?

Submitter: Femke Boekhorst
Description: Who indeed? The heart of the International LOFAR Telescope is located near the municipality of Borger-Odoorn, in Drenthe, The Netherlands. But strangely enough, if you ask an inhabitant or tourist what LOFAR is, there's a big chance you will be none the wiser(*). Fortunately, this is about to change.

The foundation LofarTafel, a group of entrepreneurs in Exloo, Drenthe, is very eager to inform inhabitants and visitors about the telescope. Among other things, they organize the yearly LOFAR days in cooperation with foundation Het Drentse Landschap (owner of the nature reserve where LOFAR is located, http://www.drentslandschap.nl/) and ASTRON.

On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July, the LOFAR days took place in Exloo, Borger-Odoorn. Visitors participated in many activities, ranging from excursions to the telescope, previews of a theater performance about the LOFAR telescope called the LOFAR Expedition (to be premiered on 2 August), to operating a small robot made by students from the Hanze Institute of Technology.

In the field where the telescope is located, kids participated in various interactive activities to introduce them to the telescope and its technology. In addition, visitors experienced a journey through the sky in the mobile planetarium, and satisfied their hunger with "heavenly" dishes at a market with local produce. Everything was accompanied by (live) music and great weather!

Of course, the press was also there. Check out coverage on: http://www.rtvnoord.nl/artikel/artikel.asp?p=122996
http://www.rtvdrenthe.nl/nieuws/onderweg naar lofar gebied

(*) LOFAR is a next-generation giant radio telescope that consists of thousands of small antennas and is spread over most of north-western Europe. http://www.astron.nl/node/347
Copyright: ASTRON
 
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