The white dome of the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope looks a little like a giant snowball, juxtaposed against the icy backdrop. SOAR is an optical telescope, meaning that it observes the skies in the wavelength range that the human eye is sensitive to (and a little beyond). The telescope, however, is equipped with a 4.1-meter mirror, so it can collect a lot more light than human eyes. SOAR is based in Chile at Cerro Pachón. It stands at an altitude of 2,700 m (8,900 ft) above sea level, which in this winter scene, explains the frosted mountain tops! SOAR is operated by the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab.
Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope - Cerro Pachón, Region IV of Coquimbo, Chile
Category: Technics
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