Posted on 11/11/2005 7:42:07 AM PST by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
South Africa unveiled the southern hemisphere's largest telescope Thursday.
Scientists say it will allow them to study galaxies and stars one billion times too faint to be seen by the naked eye. The South Africa Large Telescope, or SALT, will also be able to record light as dim as a candle flame on the moon.
The official unveiling ceremony at Sutherland in South Africa's Karoo's region was attended by scientists and dignitaries, including President Thabo Mbeki.
Mr. Mbeki told the crowd that even people who know nothing about astronomy have waited for this new telescope with great anticipation in the hopes of learning new and as unknown things about mankind.
Mbeki and his cronies are leading South Africa down the same road as Mugabe led Zimbabwe. SA is rife with rape and murder. ANd, this idiot is spending money on the world's largest telescope! It's like something out of a Waugh novel!
While millions starve!
I could be wrong, but I don't think they paid for it. Just nice to place them in the Southern Hemisphere.
ok, I take that back, they paid for part of it.
http://www.salt.ac.za/about/people/partners/
I'm sure the % breakdown wouldn't be in the order they show there though.
In probably the richest nation in the world (in terms of underground wealth)
Due to line of sight problems, the big telescopes in the north can not see the southern sky.
In the south, you have your choice of south africa, australia, argentina, chile. So the picking are pretty slim down there while there are a lot of good places in the north.
And of the above list, which one has a stable productive government? Hint, it's the one in bold. So why choose a country that is always on the verge of anarchy and collapse?
Because it's politically correct.
Yep. Magellan goes in Chile I believe?
http://www.gmto.org/
they get better than that. Extremely Large Telescope. Then one that's bigger so call it the Very Extremely Large Telescope. Or Extremely Large plus infinity Telescope. What a waste of superlatives.
I don't care what the circumstancs are on this. It is just a wonderful accomplishment.
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