Jodrell Bank Observatory

The Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory (English Jodrell Bank Observatory, short JBO ) is part of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester and is in Lower Withington, Cheshire, England. It hosts a radio telescope with a freely movable parabolic antenna of 76 meters in diameter. The Lovell Telescope with a total weight of 3,200 tons was built in 1957 and modernized in the years 2000 to 2002. In addition to general radio astronomy observations, the radio telescope is also used for tracking of interplanetary spacecraft and is used as part of the SETI project to search for radio signals of extraterrestrial civilizations. In the public eye the Jodrell Bank radio observatory also came by the fruitless search for radio signals from the European Mars landing module Beagle 2 late 2003/early 2004.

In addition, the Jodrell Bank Observatory is also a cornerstone of the MERLIN (Multi- Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network ), a network of radio telescopes in the UK, who come together as a radio astronomical interferometer used. Furthermore, the radio telescope at Jodrell Bank is also in the Very Long Baseline Interferometry used.

Trivia

During construction in 1957 parts of the turret mechanics of the wrecked British battleship HMS Royal Sovereign were used.

The Lovell Telescope appears in the film adaptation of the novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Visitor center

The Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory has a visitor center, the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, which offers tours of the observatory.

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