• Question: Do you like working with telescopes?

    Asked by sat786 to Chris, Eva, Michael, Paddy, Philip on 14 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Chris Jordan

      Chris Jordan answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Hi sat786 – sorry I missed your question in the chat – everyone was typing too many things at once and it zipped off the screen before I could answer.
      The Lovell telescope is big and exciting to work with. (Even the smaller telescopes are fun). When you can put together a computer and a few bits and pieces, write a program, press the GO button and hear the motors slowly run up to speed to swing the telescope around and then see your experiment start, it’s magic. Here;’s a link to the telescope webcam – at the moment its parked for maintenance – a bit of grease here and there and a check that everythings OK. http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/webcam/

    • Photo: Paddy Brock

      Paddy Brock answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Sadly, I never work with telescopes. Binoculars only…

    • Photo: Michael Wharmby

      Michael Wharmby answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      I’ve used an optical telescope to look at the moon before and also to look at other planets and it is pretty cool to see these things that are so far away, so close-up. I don’t work with telescopes in my research though, only microscopes.
      I’m also quite in awe of Chris’ place of work – Jodrell Bank. It’s an amazing piece of engineering and what it can do scientifically is fantastic. They have a great visitor centre too, so if you’re ever in Cheshire, give it a visit!

    • Photo: Eva Bachmair

      Eva Bachmair answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      Sorry, never tried.

    • Photo: Philip Denniff

      Philip Denniff answered on 14 Jun 2011:

      The nearest I have got has been looking down a microscope.

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