CHARA array, Optical telescope array on Mount Wilson, California, US
The CHARA array is an astronomical facility on Mount Wilson consisting of six separate telescopes that work together as one integrated system. Light collected by each telescope travels through vacuum tubes to a central building where the beams merge to create incredibly detailed observations.
This facility began development in the mid-1990s through collaboration between Georgia State University and research partners. It became operational in the early 2000s and opened up new ways for astronomers to study distant stars and their properties.
The facility contributes to astronomical research by enabling direct measurements of star diameters, surface features, and binary star systems across the universe.
The facility sits atop Mount Wilson and is accessible by car, though the road is steep and winding with elevation changes. Weather conditions can shift quickly at this height, so visiting during stable seasons works best.
The system resolves details so tiny that a coin could be spotted from thousands of miles away with this precision. This level of accuracy lets researchers see surface features on distant stars that would otherwise remain invisible.
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