Simons Observatory, Radio telescope and cosmic microwave background experiment in Atacama Desert, Chile
The Simons Observatory is a research facility with four radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert at 5200 meters elevation in northern Chile. The installation uses roughly 60,000 superconducting detectors to receive distant radio waves from space.
The observatory was established to study cosmic microwave background radiation left over from the early universe. This radiation carries information about how the universe expanded and developed after its beginning.
Scientists from multiple international institutions collaborate at this remote location to examine fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of the universe.
The site is located at high altitude in the dry Atacama Desert and is accessible only with prior permission. Visitors should prepare for extreme conditions and limited on-site infrastructure.
The facility uses specialized electronics that control thousands of sensors through just two cables. This cleverly designed technology allows it to capture enormous amounts of data from distant space.
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