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29-09-2014
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Wise oversight for the new Radome of the 20m at Onsala Space Observatory

Submitter: Arnold van Ardenne
Description: During my recent visit to Onsala Space Observatory, the replacement of the old radome around the 20m telescope (www.chalmers.se/rss/oso-en) was in full swing. Organized by OSO's former director Hans Olofsson, and led by the observatory's Roger Hammargren, the operation aims at replacing the top segment first, after which each of the other, lower sections will be individually replaced. It is expected that the transmittance and homogeneity of the radome will be much improved and that all work will be finished before the Swedish winter sets in.

As to that, the work appears to be overseen by the wisdom of an eagle-eyed eagle-owl(*) shown here in a magnificent picture by Magnus Thomasson. Alternatively, the bird might be wondering whether this egg will hatch into anything edible.

By the way, note the Swedish LOFAR station which is clearly visible in the background.

(*) From WIKIPEDIA: The Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo, or Oehoe in the Netherlands) is a species of eagle-owl resident in much of Eurasia. It is sometimes called the European eagle-owl and is, in Europe, where it is the only member of its genus besides the snowy owl (B. scandiacus), occasionally abbreviated to just eagle-owl. The Eurasian eagle-owl has a wingspan of 160-188 cm, with the largest specimens attaining 200 cm . The total length of the species can range from 56 to 75 cm. Females weigh 1.75-4.2 kg and males weigh 1.53 kg.
Copyright: Onsala Space Observatory/L. Wennerback (aerial picture) and Magnus Thomasson (owl)
 
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