Stanford Dish: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Stanford Dish.jpg|The Dish in the Stanford foothills|thumb|500px]] |
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'''The Dish''' is a [[radio telescope]] in the [[Stanford, California|Stanford]] foothills. The {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} dish was built in [[1966]] by the [[Stanford Research Institute]]. The cost to construct the telescope was $4.5 million, and was funded by the [[United States Air Force]], with the original purpose of studying the chemical composition of the [[atmosphere]]. |
'''The Dish''' is a [[radio telescope]] in the [[Stanford, California|Stanford]] foothills. The {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} dish was built in [[1966]] by the [[Stanford Research Institute]]. The cost to construct the telescope was $4.5 million, and was funded by the [[United States Air Force]], with the original purpose of studying the chemical composition of the [[atmosphere]]. |
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==Today== |
==Today== |
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[[Image:Radio telescope The Dish.jpg|thumb|350px|The Dish]] |
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The dish is still actively used today<ref>[http://dish.stanford.edu/]</ref> for academic and research purposes. |
The dish is still actively used today<ref>[http://dish.stanford.edu/]</ref> for academic and research purposes. |
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Revision as of 09:48, 15 February 2011
The Dish is a radio telescope in the Stanford foothills. The 150-foot-diameter (46 m) dish was built in 1966 by the Stanford Research Institute. The cost to construct the telescope was $4.5 million, and was funded by the United States Air Force, with the original purpose of studying the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
Later on, the Dish was used to communicate with satellites and spacecraft. With its unique Bistatic range radio communications, where the transmitter and receiver are separate units, the powerful radar antenna was well-suited for communicating with spacecraft in regions where conventional radio signals may be disrupted.
At one point, the Dish transmitted signals to each of the Voyager crafts that NASA dispatched into the outer reaches of the solar system. It has also been used to remotely recalibrate ailing satellites orbiting the Earth.
Today
The dish is still actively used today[1] for academic and research purposes.
Recreational trail
The area around the Dish offers a popular 3.5 mile recreational trail, visited by an average of 1,500-1,800 people daily.[2] The trail around the dish is known for its daunting hills and beautiful views, which on a clear day extend to San Jose, San Francisco, and the East Bay. While hikers, walkers, and runners are welcome, biking and dogs at the dish are not allowed. The opening hours are as per the schedule below, roughly matching daylight hours:
| Jan | 6:30 AM-5:00 PM |
| Feb | 6:30 AM-5:30 PM |
| Mar | 6 AM-6:30 PM |
| Apr | 6 AM-7:30 PM |
| May | 6 AM-7:30 PM |
| Jun | 6 AM-7:30 PM |
| Jul | 6 AM-7:30 PM |
| Aug | 6 AM-7:30 PM |
| Sep | 6:30 AM-7:00 PM |
| Oct | 6:30 AM-6:00 PM |
| Nov | 6:30 AM-5:00 PM |
| Dec | 6:30 AM-5:00 PM |
In 2011, 213 cows lived on the grounds of the Stanford Dish, according to Stanford's real estate office. Stanford leases the land to farmers who own the cows.
A sign at the entrance to the Stanford Dish encourages recreational users to keep an eye out for mountain lions. The area is a known habitat for the large cats, though sightings are extremely rare. Most recently, the university issued a warning in January 2011 after mountain lion tracks were spotted outside the entrance to the Dish at the intersection of Junipero Serra Boulevard and Campus Drive West. Fresh tracks were seen on dirt trails leading to Lake Lagunita, on the campus side of Junipero Serra. If you are a recreational Dish user, you should know that if you see a mountain lion, you should not run or turn your back. Appear larger by waving your arms or a jacket or other objects above your head. Make loud sounds and yell. Grab a stick or rock. Keep young children close. Slowly move away while watching the animal. Attacks are very rare and most frequently the animal will go away.[3]
Stanford requests that any mountain lion sightings on the Dish or surrounding area be immediately reported to the university police at (650) 329-2413.
See also
References
External links
- The Dish Antenna Facility
- Stanford Dish Area Official Web Page
- Stanford University Traditions
- Nearby Hiking Trails in Santa Clara County - San Jose Wiki
37°24′30″N 122°10′45″W / 37.408338°N 122.179223°W
