Large Millimeter Telescope, Radio telescope on Sierra Negra volcano, Mexico.
The Large Millimeter Telescope is a radio telescope on the Sierra Negra volcano in Atzitzintla, Mexico. The white dome houses a dish measuring 50 meters across, assembled from 180 individual segments arranged in five concentric rings.
Operations began in June 2011 after years of international collaboration between Mexican and US institutions. The first scientific phase started in May 2013 and has since delivered numerous findings about distant galaxies and cold celestial objects.
The facility sits on a mountain that served as a traditional landmark for the region's indigenous communities. Today Mexican and American research teams work side by side exploring the cosmos.
Access requires special permission since this is an active research facility. The elevation of 4,640 meters (15,220 feet) demands good physical condition and time to adjust to the thin air.
The telescope receives radio waves between 0.85 and 4 millimeters in wavelength, emitted by extremely cold objects in space. This technique allows viewing through cosmic dust that optical telescopes cannot penetrate.
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