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money works 4x harder in India
Yes, we build one road, one telescope, one electric grid extension, one fiber optic cable, one telephone line for you, all new parts!
Only 400 million rupee, one, bubba. Other four extra.
Yes on time, on time, no problem!
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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"India would be a much, much better site than Hawaii."
No, this is incorrect. The site you refer to, Hanle, was looked at when the TMT was looking for an alternative site, but due to the geography of the area, winds are blown up and over the top of the site which degrades the seeing and is not comparable to Mauna Kea. Secondly, due to the lack of infrastructure and the distance from ports, the costs to build there would have been much greater than Mauna Kea. Thirdly, heavy snow blocks the few roads into the area each winter meaning the construction periods would be short and if built there, gaining access to the observatory for maintenance would often be impossible.
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quote: Originally posted by PaulW
Have to agree with kalakoa about India, having recently had a(nother) bad experience.
"Hindus have known for thousands of years that the age of the earth is in the billions"
Interesting! Do you have a link? I hope it isn't as bogus as the government minister claiming recently that India invented the Internet thousands of years ago.
Quick google result:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-age-of...r-Hinduism
Original was via Richard Mann & Siddha Yoga, I think.
***Still can't figure out how to spell 'car' correctly***
***Still can't figure out how to spell 'car' correctly***
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You have got to be joking, what a mess.
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quote: Originally posted by PaulW
You have got to be joking, what a mess.
No, I think it all becomes pretty clear after one jogs up and down the mountain thousands of times...
***Still can't figure out how to spell 'car' correctly***
***Still can't figure out how to spell 'car' correctly***
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What the Hindu religion has to say about the age of the universe is not something scientists use to determine what is or is not a good observing site.
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I don't know what it is that makes some here think they can make credible claims without actually understanding the science they are talking about.
"I suggest, billions of dollars for a project makes just about any spot on earth a candidate for a scope..."
Frank - please explain to all of us using your knowledge of astronomy and observing techniques and instrumentation how anywhere in the world can be used for optical/infrared astronomy. Please describe and explain the techniques you know that will overcome the amount of precipitable water vapor, atmospheric turbulence, local air temperature, cloud coverage, isoplanatic angle and atmospheric coherence time all for $1.4 billion - or much more as you seem to imply.
If you want to question someone's credibility, fine, but please think about your own.
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quote: Originally posted by TomK
I don't know what it is that makes some here think they can make credible claims without actually understanding the science they are talking about.
"I suggest, billions of dollars for a project makes just about any spot on earth a candidate for a scope..."
Frank - please explain to all of us using your knowledge of astronomy and observing techniques and instrumentation how anywhere in the world can be used for optical/infrared astronomy. Please describe and explain the techniques you know that will overcome the amount of precipitable water vapor, atmospheric turbulence, local air temperature, cloud coverage, isoplanatic angle and atmospheric coherence time all for $1.4 billion - or much more as you seem to imply.
If you want to question someone's credibility, fine, but please think about your own.
Have to admit, I know very little about the observing techniques and instrumentation but, $$$ will buy the personnel with the knowledge...Enough money will buy anything
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$$$ will buy the personnel with the knowledge...Enough money will buy anything
Every project has a budget, and needs funds from somewhere. The TMT does not have infinite money available. Even the Pentagon & NASA have programs and proposals left on the drawing board. Also, as TomK pointed out, weather conditions which don’t provide an observatory with maximum clarity will rule out certain locations, infinite money or not.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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billions of dollars for a project makes just about any spot on earth a candidate for a scope...
Yes, because you can launch a space-based telescope from anywhere, though it's easier as you get closer to the equator.
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