NANTEN2 Observatory, Radio telescope in Atacama Desert, Chile
NANTEN2 Observatory is a radio telescope with a 4-meter Cassegrain reflector positioned at 4,800 meters elevation for millimeter and submillimeter wave observations. The instrument sits at Pampa la Bola next to Cerro Chajnantor in the Atacama Desert.
The telescope operated at Las Campanas Observatory from 1995 to 2004 before relocating to its current site. This move took advantage of the superior conditions offered by the high desert location.
The observatory brings together research institutions from Japan, South Korea, Germany, Australia, and Chile working side by side on astronomy. This international partnership reflects how modern science crosses borders to study the sky.
Visitors should spend time acclimatizing to the altitude in San Pedro de Atacama before heading to the observatory site. Emergency oxygen supplies are available on-site for safety at this elevation.
The telescope captures atomic and molecular spectral lines across frequencies from 110 to 880 GHz with remarkable clarity. The exceptionally dry conditions of the high desert make it an ideal location for these high-frequency observations.
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