GroundBIRD, Radio telescope at Teide Observatory, Tenerife, Spain
GroundBIRD is a radio telescope at Teide Observatory that observes the cosmic microwave background using two mirrors arranged in a special optical design. The instrument works with detectors tuned to specific frequencies in order to gather detailed information about the universe's earliest radiation.
The telescope was originally developed and tested in Japan before being relocated to Teide Observatory in Tenerife in 2019. The high-altitude location at 2400 meters provides excellent conditions for observing the cosmic microwave background with minimal atmospheric interference.
The presence of Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu at the facility in 2020 emphasized the international research connections between Spain and Japan.
The instrument is situated in a high-altitude mountain setting with cold temperatures and clear dark skies far from light pollution. Visitors should prepare for the elevation and bring warm clothing, as conditions in this mountainous location can be demanding.
The instrument uses specially designed detectors cooled to minus 23 degrees Celsius to capture faint signals from space. This extreme cooling is essential to achieve the sensitive measurements needed and to reduce the noise that the equipment itself would otherwise generate.
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