Astronomers have switched on the first 42 radio dishes of the Allen Telescope Array and are collecting data -- both for conventional radio astronomy, and the search for extraterrestrial life. A total of 350 dishes are planned for the array, which will allow astronomers to image large portions of the sky in one exposure. The operators of the telescope say its design will allow rapid astronomical observations and analysis.
The project, built in an arid valley near the town of Hat Creek, just north of Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California, is funded in large part by Paul Allen of Microsoft fame. The astronomers plan to have the full 350-dish array operating within three years. In this segment, Ira talks with one of the project leaders about the telescope and what it will be doing in the years ahead.
Produced by Karin Vergoth