High tech Russian telescope to start operating in Brazil

A Russian telescope being set up at the Pico dos Dias Observatory in Brazópolis, Minas Gerais, is due to start operating later this month. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications (MCTI), it at its final mounting stage (assembly began last November).

Pico dos Dias Observatory in Brazópolis, Minas Gerais. Image credit: Agência Brasil/Brasil.gov

The telescope's primary task is to monitor space junk to anticipate potential collisions with the Earth.

The project is part of an agreement signed with the Russian Space Agency(ROSCOMOS) in April, whereby the agency committed investments of about $3.2 million, and Brazil agreed to provide facilities for equipment operation, in addition to meeting energy, internet, and other costs.

The partnership is part of the second stage of a research project in Russia, where an existing telescope is already dedicated to space debris monitoring.

Russia was looking for a Southern Hemisphere partner and found suitable conditions at Pico dos Dias Observatory run by the National Astrophysics Laboratory, which is affiliated to the MCTI.

Among other factors, the site was chosen for its geographical location, as the telescopes in Brazil and Russia will be positioned to capture complementary imagery. Moreover, the region's sky conditions are favorable for observations.

Pico dos Dias Observatory is located about 1,800m high, and is home to four other telescopes. The Russian telescope will be the most cutting-edge device in operation in Brazil. With 75 cm aperture, it will cover a wider viewing range and will be able to map a larger area than any other telescope in Brazil.

One of the benefits of the cooperation for Brazil is that it allows the country better preparation for satellite launches by providing more detailed data on the space trash routes. There are a number of large pieces traveling the Earth's orbit, and tracking their path can help prevent their potentially destructive impact.

Brazil is currently required to follow NASA's recommendations when launching new equipment into orbit, but the US space agency does not provide detailed information. With the new telescope, Brazil will be more informed to choose the best orbit.

The imagery produced by the telescope will also help advance research in Brazil, by supporting studies on asteroids, comets, and stars. All data and photos will be made available to the scientific community upon request to the National Astrophysics Laboratory. (Agência Brasil)

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