Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (Latvian: Ventspils Starptautiskais radioastronomijas centrs – VIRAC) is an ex-Sovietradio astronomy installation 30 km north of Ventspils, Latvia, on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Ance parish. The installation was secret until 1993 after Latvia regained independence. It was taken over by the Latvian Academy of Sciences after the withdrawal of the Soviet Army in 1994. Since then, the two of the three radio telescopes have been repaired and renewed.[1]
Located in woodlands near Irbene, in Ventspils Municipality, Latvia, the centre was founded in 1974 by the Soviet military.[2] It originally consisted of a 32-metre telescope, along with two smaller telescopes and a communications centre, and was known as Zvezdochka, meaning "Little Star". It was possibly used by the KGB during the Cold War to spy on communications between Europe and the United States.[3]
It became a scientific research facility in the 1990s,[2] established on 22 July 1994 as part of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, before becoming an independent organisation on 24 April 1996.[4] It is now known as the Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center[2] ("Ventspils Starptautiskais radioastronomijas centrs"),[3] or the Irbene Astronomy Center.[5]
RT-32edit
RT-32 is a 32-metre (105 ft) parabolic radio telescope.[3] It is made up of over 20,000 components,[2] and the central cone weighs 80 tonnes.[5] The fully steerable telescope observes at centimetre wavelengths. The combination of size and precision engineering makes the larger dish especially valuable to scientists. The structure was built by a naval factory in Ukraine, and the interiors are reminiscent of a ship.[6]
The telescope is mounted on a 25-metre-high (82 ft) tower. It has an 11.45-metre (37.6 ft) focal length, and a 2.5-metre (8.2 ft) secondary mirror.[7]
In its first upgrade since being constructed,[5] RT-32 was temporarily dismantled towards the end of 2014, and moved to a purpose-built shelter for restoration. The restoration includes re-welding the panels, replacing rusted parts, and repairing damage caused by the passage of time, water ingress and lightning strikes. The telescope will also be upgraded to enable it to be controlled remotely, and to be able to make more precise and sensitive observations. The telescope will be used in Very-long-baseline interferometry. The restoration cost around €16 million overall, with the restoration of the telescope panels costing around €1.5 million; the restoration was funded by the European Union and Latvian state and Ventspils district governments.[2] The dish of the telescope was remounted in June 2015, with the restoration due to be completed in October 2015.[5]
RT-16edit
The centre also has a 16 metres (52 ft) parabolic radio telescope.[3]
LOFARedit
Since 2019, the VIRAC observatory in Irbene includes a LOFAR station.[8]
^. VENTA. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
^ abcdČunka, Judīte (10 June 2015). "Radiotelescope to point skyward again for space science". LSM.lv.
^Howard Jarvis; Tim Ochser, Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania, Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 2011, ISBN978-14-05-36929-9, p. 177.
^"VIRAC - Technical details". VENTA. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
^"Radio astronomy centre in Irbene celebrates 25th anniversary and opens LOFAR-LATVIA antennae array". izm.gov.lv. 25 October 2019.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irbene RT32 radiotelescope.
January 01, 1970
ventspils, international, radio, astronomy, centre, latvian, ventspils, starptautiskais, radioastronomijas, centrs, virac, soviet, radio, astronomy, installation, north, ventspils, latvia, coast, baltic, ance, parish, installation, secret, until, 1993, after, . Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre Latvian Ventspils Starptautiskais radioastronomijas centrs VIRAC is an ex Soviet radio astronomy installation 30 km north of Ventspils Latvia on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Ance parish The installation was secret until 1993 after Latvia regained independence It was taken over by the Latvian Academy of Sciences after the withdrawal of the Soviet Army in 1994 Since then the two of the three radio telescopes have been repaired and renewed 1 Ventspils International Radio Astronomy CenterThe RT 32 radio telescopeLocationLatviaCoordinates57 33 13 N 21 51 18 E 57 553493 N 21 854916 E 57 553493 21 854916Websiteen wbr venta wbr lv wbr science wbr ventspils international radio astronomy centreTelescopesIrbene RT32 radio telescope Location of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre Related media on Commons edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Description 2 RT 32 3 RT 16 4 LOFAR 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription editLocated in woodlands near Irbene in Ventspils Municipality Latvia the centre was founded in 1974 by the Soviet military 2 It originally consisted of a 32 metre telescope along with two smaller telescopes and a communications centre and was known as Zvezdochka meaning Little Star It was possibly used by the KGB during the Cold War to spy on communications between Europe and the United States 3 It became a scientific research facility in the 1990s 2 established on 22 July 1994 as part of the Latvian Academy of Sciences before becoming an independent organisation on 24 April 1996 4 It is now known as the Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center 2 Ventspils Starptautiskais radioastronomijas centrs 3 or the Irbene Astronomy Center 5 RT 32 editRT 32 is a 32 metre 105 ft parabolic radio telescope 3 It is made up of over 20 000 components 2 and the central cone weighs 80 tonnes 5 The fully steerable telescope observes at centimetre wavelengths The combination of size and precision engineering makes the larger dish especially valuable to scientists The structure was built by a naval factory in Ukraine and the interiors are reminiscent of a ship 6 The telescope is mounted on a 25 metre high 82 ft tower It has an 11 45 metre 37 6 ft focal length and a 2 5 metre 8 2 ft secondary mirror 7 In its first upgrade since being constructed 5 RT 32 was temporarily dismantled towards the end of 2014 and moved to a purpose built shelter for restoration The restoration includes re welding the panels replacing rusted parts and repairing damage caused by the passage of time water ingress and lightning strikes The telescope will also be upgraded to enable it to be controlled remotely and to be able to make more precise and sensitive observations The telescope will be used in Very long baseline interferometry The restoration cost around 16 million overall with the restoration of the telescope panels costing around 1 5 million the restoration was funded by the European Union and Latvian state and Ventspils district governments 2 The dish of the telescope was remounted in June 2015 with the restoration due to be completed in October 2015 5 RT 16 editThe centre also has a 16 metres 52 ft parabolic radio telescope 3 LOFAR editSince 2019 the VIRAC observatory in Irbene includes a LOFAR station 8 See also editList of astronomical observatoriesReferences edit Johannes Bach Rasmussen Travel Guide Traces of the Cold War Period Nordic Council of Ministers 2010 ISBN 978 92 89 32121 1 p 106 a b c d e Radiotelescope gears up for new age LSM lv 22 January 2015 a b c d Stephen Baister Chris Patrick 2007 Latvia Bradt Travel Guides p 177 ISBN 978 1 84162 201 9 VIRAC About Us VENTA Archived from the original on 9 September 2009 Retrieved 22 April 2016 a b c d Cunka Judite 10 June 2015 Radiotelescope to point skyward again for space science LSM lv Howard Jarvis Tim Ochser Estonia Latvia amp Lithuania Dorling Kindersley Ltd 2011 ISBN 978 14 05 36929 9 p 177 VIRAC Technical details VENTA Archived from the original on 27 May 2012 Retrieved 22 April 2016 Radio astronomy centre in Irbene celebrates 25th anniversary and opens LOFAR LATVIA antennae array izm gov lv 25 October 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irbene RT32 radiotelescope Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre amp oldid 1175304371, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
