Viper telescope

The Viper telescope was a 2-metre telescope used to observe the submillimetre band from the South Pole.^[1] This telescope was located at the Center for Astrophysical Research, also known as (CARA), in the Amundsen-Scott station in Antarctica. The project was operated by many scientists; the team leader, Dr. Jeffrey Peterson, is a Carnegie Mellon astrophysicist.

Viper telescope

Part of	Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station
Location(s)	Antarctic Treaty area
Coordinates	90°00′S 139°16′W
Wavelength	40 GHz (7.5 mm)
First light	1998
Decommissioned	November 2005
Telescope style	cosmic microwave background experiment radio interferometer
Diameter	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Location of Viper telescope

Viper was mainly used to view Cosmic microwave background.^[2] First operational in 1998, the telescope was used to help scientists prove or disprove the Big Crunch theory. The telescope was at the time also one of the most powerful of its kind. Previous cosmic background telescopes were smaller and less sensitive. It was decommissioned in 2005.

References

1. Novak, Giles; et al. (1995). "Polarimetric submillimeter observations from the South Pole". Airborne Astronomy Symposium on the Galactic Ecosystem: From Gas to Stars to Dust. 73. Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 563–566. Bibcode:1995ASPC...73..563N.
2. Griffin, G.; et al. (May 1998). "The Viper Telescope : an Instrument to Measure Primary and Secondary CMB Anisotropy at Small Scales". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 30. American Astronomical Society, 192nd AAS Meeting: 904. Bibcode:1998AAS...192.5803G. 58.03.

External links

• National Science Foundation
• Antarctic Treaty
• Harvard