2-Aug-2003

Ramprasad Rao
Post Doctoral Fellow
Submillimeter Array (SMA),
Hilo, HI

Title: Surfing the Waves atop Mauna Kea using the Submillimeter Array 
Telescope

Short Description:

The Submillimeter Array is a very unique telescope. When completed in
late 2003, it will be the first array of telescopes to work at
submillimeter wavelengths which are not visible to the human eye. The
array consists of eight separate antennas of six meter diameter whose
signals are mathematically combined to simulate a much larger 
telescope. The
array will be used to look at diverse objects such as planets, asteroids
and other objects within our solar system as well as newly forming stars
and stars that are dying within our galaxy, the Milky Way, and other
neighboring and distant galaxies as well. I will be presenting some very
preliminary scientific results from the array and these are
amazing considering the fact that the array is operating at a fraction
of its final capability.