Soviet Radio Telescopes
Somewhere between Ventspils and Kolka cape in Latvia (ex-Soviet country) is located two radio telescopes (also known as “zvjozdachka” - the star), that in those days were one of most secret elements in soviet army. There are two antennas left – RT-32 (main dish is 32 meters in diameter) and RT-16 (16 meters). The smallest one – RT-10 – was taken away when soviet soldiers left Latvia in 90-ies. With those antennas Russian forces were able to spy phone calls everywhere they wanted.
When entering the complex (area – 200 ha), first you can see abondend city where soviet army forces and scientists used to live. All of that was so secret that even Latvian soldiers and scientists were shocked when they saw what has been here all the time (in fact, all Northern and costal part of Kurzeme was strictly no inhabitants zone).
Back in 1993, when Soviet forces were preparing to leave Latvia, they wanted to blow up all those buildings (what can’t be their, can’t be anybody’s). Although, because of last minute call from Russian Academy of Sciences and international astronomers, they just demolished them – Latvia’s scientists received RT-32 and RT-16 with nails hammered into wires, with acid poured on main system parts and with no plans how to start up this equipment. Interessting, that all damage was made after plan – believing that Soviets will come back someday.
In less than 20 years Latvians managed to repair all this and replace all the equipment with modern PC so that foreign scientists can come and work. But it has a downside – now tourists aren’t allowed to go inside there.
Nowadays RT-32 is used for science. Because of it’s precision (it’s one of most precise radio telescopes in world), it can be used to listen signals from space. The most furthern constellation that was received was Swan’s constellation – 500 million light years away.
The RT-16 is being renovated and it will be used for young scientists from Ventspils University that will monitor their sattelite that they are preparing to put into space.
Back in soviet times all three antennas were connected with underground paths. Nowadays there are not in use but they still are there. Tourists are not allowed to view them.
by Aigars L.
| Tags: latvia, russian history, russian-science, soviet era |
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i love radio telescopes, i would love to visit jodrell bank…
So why don’t you? It’s open for visitors.
Nice pictures. And the comments contain the usual 69% of ER-Bullshit along with some legit information.
not 69%, at least 90% of the admins comments are wrong.
Nevertheless radio telescopes were used for intelligence gathering purposes. One was to pick radar signals that were reflected back from the moon.
SIGINT satellites provide to be more useful but anyway there are reasons for militaries to use equipment normally associatted with science than espionage.
What a crap
Stupid russian scum. I am boris and approve this message. I have something else’s to say like rest of the people on this site i am a lonely american pretending to be Russian with rest of these fake pictures. Sieg Heil Long with Bush and i love to take his cock oh god yes yes yes i am going cummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
What is that shit you smokin’ ?
What is that shit you smokin’ ??
What’s wrong with Bush? It’s his actions that are leading to the downfall of Iran and Islam. George Bush is a great man that should be admired in every country.
Been there. This “article”, as usually, has several great statements:
1)a ghost city - two abandoned houses
2)used by foreign scientists - yeah, right, Latvia has no scientists and the telescope is so world-famously-precise, that there are only foreign scientists queuing up and using it
3)all Northern and costal part of Kurzeme was strictly no inhabitants zone - sure, it had way more military objects than elsewhere in Latvia and most of the ex-USSR, which meant that no inhabitants should be allowed around them, but the key is that northern part of kurzeme has never been even lightly populated, because of the swampy area.
You’re f***ing pathetic. There are not only two houses, you moron. It’s a small city actually hidden deep in the woods. And Latvia do have scientists. Actually their inventions are used on many purposes around the globe, so shut up, URLA.
I didn’t knew about the city, but about the Latvian scientists - I was being sarcastic.
В мурманске есть такое
“vladimir fickdusiemir” and “té”, please specify which comments exactly are incorrect…
Latvian soldiers and scientists were shocked when they saw what has been here all the time LOL….
Nevertheless radiotelescopes can be used for intelligence gathering purposes. One, is collecting radar signals that bounce off from the moon for example.
SIGINT satellites prove to be more useful but anyway is a reminder that radiotelescopes more oftenly associated with science can be used for espionage
Thanks for mentioning that Latvia is not part of Russia. Previous posts did not say that and Latvians don’t like to be thought of as part of that big, brutal and corrupted country to the east.
Aliens was there.
dumb-asses. first, check out the maps, second - do a simple search over internet about the place. And then you can flame all the bullshit out of you silly American consumer pie holes.
there is a “city” not two houses. The info about the scope are correct. You can easily visit the site for a small amount of fee. Also, if you get lucky you can even see the underground tunnels.
http://www.balticmaps.eu/?lang=lv¢erx=371749¢ery=6381461&zoom=1
switch to aerofoto.
Кто здесь?!!!
Who the hell writes those captions? It is not “Swan’s constellation”, it is Cygnus. Finish MGIMO, tovarishch?
Finish MGIMO? What’s that mean?
It’s a joke, m’friend, poking fun at what passes for author’s language skills. To wit:
Two dudes meet, say, somewhere in London. The following dialog occurs:
- Which watch?
- Half seven.
- Such much?
- Whom how…
- Finish MGIMO?
- Ask!
For the humor-impaired, non-Russian speakers and those not familiar with Soviet realities, the dudes speak in calques from Russian that make exactly zero sense in proper English, yet the two somehow manage to understand each other and maintain a conversation. MGIMO is a Moscow State Institute for International Relations, the most prestigious language school in Russia. Translated from “Ruglish”, this conversation would go:
- What time is it?
- 6:30
- Is it really this late?
- I wouldn’t exactly call it late, but you’re entitled to your own opinion
- You’re not a MGIMO graduate by any chance, are you?
- Why, of course I am!
…and I have to presume that you “finish MGIMO”, too. Review the use of Simple Present vs. Present Progressive.
hehe, fail
This was crude attempt by Soviets to get free playboy channels.
God Bless them they will come back some day!
that thing can shoot lazers beams at eliens and such…
Yo! One of my bitches is holding back on paying me my money> Can I use this here antennuh to spy on her ass?
Yo! Someone be deleting all my most excellent comments. Yo! that is whack!
This Blog is called English Russia. And I thought Latvia wasn’t Russia…
Was once part of Soviet Union, theefore it is open season. Can I get the Simpson’s on this?