Molonglo Megahertz Traditional Cache
Hidden : 2/22/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Well, 843 megahertz to be exact!

Most of us are familiar with the radio telescopes at Tidbinbilla! Very fine telescopes they are! The largest radio telescope at Tidbinbilla (the 70m radio telescope) has an area of almost 4,000 square metres – that really is very big!

However, if you want to see a REALLY big radio telescope, you need to find this cache! The Molonglo radio telescope, has a total length of 1.6km and a collecting area of 18,000 square metres - the largest of any radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere!

The Molonglo telescope is famous for producing the first picture of a supernova remnant and a unique map of the southern sky. The telescope is currently completing the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey, which will provide the first sensitive imaging survey of the entire southern sky at radio wavelengths.

The telescope consists of two cylindrical paraboloids, 778m x 12m, and aligned East-West. A feed of 7744 circular dipoles collects the signal and feeds 176 preamplifiers and 88 IF amplifiers. The telescope is steered by mechanical rotation of the cylindrical paraboloids about their axis.

However, this telescope is jeopardized by interference from the 3G mobile phone network. Alas – the 800 MHz frequency used by the telescope is also is ideal for mobile phones. From about October 2006, when the 3G network was started, Molonglo has had serious problems! The regulator is about to decide whether to end Molonglo's limited protection against interference from commercial users of the spectrum.

So – be quick, and find this cache, before the telescope is little more than a dinosaur!

Please BYO pen.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Senzr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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