QUIJOTE Experiment, Radio telescope at Teide Observatory, Spain
QUIJOTE is a radio telescope installation on Tenerife equipped with two telescopes designed to detect and measure radiation from the early universe. The instruments operate across different frequency bands to enable detailed measurements of the cosmic background radiation filling all of space.
The facility began operations in 2012 as part of a research initiative led by scientists at the Canary Islands astrophysics institute. The project developed from the goal of investigating the universe's earliest phases and improving our understanding of cosmic origins.
The facility takes its name from a figure in Spanish literature, reflecting the connection between science and culture in the project's identity. Visitors observing the site can see how international scientific teams work together in this remote mountain location.
The observatory sits on a mountainous location near Tenerife in an area with minimal light pollution, which is crucial for its observations. Visitors should know that the site is generally not open for casual visits and that the surroundings are quite exposed to the elements.
The facility works alongside data collected by a European space satellite but complements it with measurements at lower frequencies only possible from the ground. This makes the system an important tool for detecting patterns in cosmic radiation that would be invisible from satellite observations alone.
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