In Chile’s Atacama Desert, astronomers, academic leaders and government officials from Cornell, Germany, Canada and Chile will gather to celebrate the inauguration of the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST). This 6-meter (20 feet) diameter telescope operating at submillimeter wavelengths is specially-designed to map wide areas of the sky very efficiently, advancing research into some of astronomy’s most fundamental questions and reflects years of collaboration by its international academic partners.
FYST is located near the summit of Cerro Chajnantor at 18,400 feet (5,600 meters), in Chile’s Parque Astronómico Atacama.
The inauguration will feature remarks by Chilean and German government officials, administrators from the Universities of Cologne, Bonn, Toronto and Chile, and members of the partner astronomical communities. From the lead partner Cornell, speakers will include President Michael Kotlikoff and College of Arts & Sciences Dean Peter John Loewen. Telescope namesake and donor Fred Young ’64, M.Eng. ’66 will have the last word.
Link to the livestream: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/93602674266?pwd=fHhM3IqTjbjIXi5mVN7R2suvX1pdaF.1