Mopra telescope - update on research impacts (11:50 am Thursday 17 January)

This update addresses the effects of the fire on the research done with the Mopra telescope. For the condition of the site, see the update of 16 January.

MOPRA RESEARCH AND THE EFFECTS OF THE FIRE

Mopra is mainly used for millimetre-wave observing in the cooler months (April to October) since the atmosphere is more stable and so the observations are of higher quality. The millimetre-wave band allows us to observe dust and molecules and is an important way we learn about how stars form and about the composition and structure of galaxies.


The next and final scheduled Mopra observations for the current semester are in mid March, as part of the Long Baseline Array that observes at very high resolution (The LBA joins all our telescopes together with some operated by University of Tasmania and AUT University in "Very Long Baseline Interferometry"). These observations will almost certainly not be possible.


WHEN WILL OBSERVING RECOMMENCE?

There is no estimate of how long it might take to begin observing again, since we have not yet adequately assessed the damage. It will take several weeks to make a complete assessment once we can remove key equipment from the site and restore power to the telescope.

Added by Lou Morrissey, mob. 0419 168 940 on 2013-01-17