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Astronomy/Big Bear & other creative telescope sites

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Expert: - 9/16/2005


Question
Dear Ed,

I know that being at high altitudes is a critical aspect for large telescopes. However, I have found a solar observatory called Big Bear (http://www.bbso.njit.edu/) which is located in the middle of a lake. Do you know of any other major research telescope, not placed at some remote mountain summit?

Thanx
Leila


Answer
Leila,
They really do tend to be installed at high altitudes.  They're just so danged expensive to build, atronomers don't feel that they'll get their money's worth unless they build the telescopes really, really high up.  Here is a nice website showing the altitudes of various telescopes.  As you already know, they're all pretty high up.
http://astro.nineplanets.org/bigeyes.html

Keep Looking Up!
--Ed

Astronomy

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Ed

Expertise

I am not a professional astronomer by any means, but astronomy has been an interest of mine since childhood, and I am well-informed on the subject. If unable to answer someone`s question personally, I will know how to quickly find the answer online, because I keep myself informed about developments in the field and I know where to look for information.

Experience

I worked in an observatory for awhile at one point, doing various interesting things with a computer.

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