Astronomy:The Dish (landmark)
The Dish is a radio antenna in the Stanford foothills. The 150-foot-diameter (46 m) dish was built in 1961 by the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International). The cost to construct the antenna was $4.5 million, and was funded by the United States Air Force .[1] In the 1960s the Dish was used to provide information on Soviet radar installations by detecting radio signals bounced off the moon.[2]
Later on, the Dish was used to communicate with satellites and spacecraft. With its unique bistatic range radio communications, where the transmitter and receiver are separate units, the powerful radar antenna was well-suited for communicating with spacecraft in regions where conventional radio signals may be disrupted.[3]
At one point, the Dish transmitted signals to each of the Voyager craft that NASA dispatched into the outer reaches of the solar system.[4] It has also been used to remotely recalibrate ailing satellites orbiting the Earth.[citation needed]
Today
The dish is still actively used today for academic and research purposes.[5] It is owned by the U.S. Government and operated by SRI International. It is used for commanding and calibrating spacecraft and for radio astronomy measurements.[6]
Recreational route
The area around the Dish offers a popular 3.5 mile recreational trail, visited by an average of 1,500–1,800 people daily.[7] The trail around the dish is known for its rolling hills and beautiful views, which on a clear day extend to San Jose, San Francisco, and the East Bay. While hikers, walkers, and runners are welcome, biking and dogs at the dish are not allowed. The opening hours are as per the schedule below, roughly matching daylight hours:
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| opens (AM) | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:00 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 |
| closes (PM) | 5:00 | 5:30 | 6:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:30 | 7:00 | 6:00 | 5:00 | 5:00 |
In 2011, 213 cows lived on the grounds of the Stanford Dish, according to Stanford's real estate office.[citation needed] Stanford leases the land to farmers who own the cows.
References
- ↑ "Radar Dish Erected on SU Campus". The Stanford Daily 140 (7): p. 1. October 2, 1961. https://stanforddailyarchive.com/cgi-bin/stanford?a=d&d=stanford19611002-01.2.3#. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ↑ Eliot, Frank. "Moon Bounce Elint". https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol11no2/html/v11i2a05p_0001.htm. Retrieved 25 March 2019. (Also available as scanned PDF)
- ↑ Tuchinsky, Evan. "Stanford Golf Course: A Historical Tour". http://gostanford.cstv.com/trads/stan-golfcourse.html.
- ↑ "Voyager: The Grand Tour of Big Science". NASA. https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter11.html. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ↑ "Welcome to the Stanford Dish". Stanford University. http://dish.stanford.edu/. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ↑ "Dish Radio Antenna". SRI International. https://www.sri.com/hoi/dish-radio-antenna/. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ↑ Kim, Ryan (29 April 2004). "Stanford University / Mountain lion attack jolts horse country / Dish Trail users still jog and hike -- but are wary". SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/STANFORD-UNIVERSITY-Mountain-lion-attack-jolts-2786320.php. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
Further reading
- The "Dish" Radio Antenna Facility
- Stanford Dish Area Official Web Page
- Stanford University Traditions
- Nearby Hiking Trails in Santa Clara County - San Jose Wiki
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