Radio Astronomical Observatory of Sicaya

The Radio Astronomical Observatory of Sicaya sits in central Peru at 3,370 metres altitude, built around a 32-metre parabolic antenna with an unusual history spanning telecommunications and astronomy.

About Radio Astronomical Observatory of Sicaya

The observatory's centrepiece, a 32-metre parabolic antenna, was not originally built for astronomy at all. It began life in 1984 as an INTELSAT telecommunications antenna, constructed by the Nippon Electric Company, and was operated for satellite communications by Entel Peru and later Telefónica del Peru.

History

The antenna served telecommunications purposes from 1984 to 2000, after which it sat unused while its owner sought a new purpose for it. In 2008 it was donated to the Geophysical Institute of Peru, marking its transformation into a scientific instrument. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan contributed to the setup and commissioning of the new radio telescope.

Telescopes & research

Its initial scientific purpose was to observe the methanol maser at 6.7 GHz associated with young stellar objects, work that helps astronomers understand how stars form. Plans for the future include Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations, which would let the antenna work together with distant radio telescopes for far sharper resolution.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Sicaya, in central Peru, at an altitude of 3,370 metres, within the South America region. Use the map and directions on this page to find the site.

Visiting Radio Astronomical Observatory of Sicaya

As a research radio telescope facility, specific public visiting arrangements are not confirmed here; check with the Geophysical Institute of Peru for current access information before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

While radio telescopes like the one at Sicaya observe wavelengths invisible to the eye, the same coordinates, right ascension and declination, that guide a visible-light telescope to a named star also describe where a radio dish would point. Name a star, or browse the star catalogue.