Marker stone and plaque "The Cosmic Noise Expedition"
"From this site in August 1948, two pioneering radio
astronomers, John Bolton and Gordon Stanley, from the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Sydney,
determined for the first time the source of radio waves from outside our solar system. The astronomical world was
astonished by this surprising opening of a new window on
the universe.
The expedition gathered data at Pakiri on the east coast,
then moved to this World War II Radar Station. Success was ensured because of a reliable electricity supply for their
trailer-mounted sea-cliff interferometer (used at 100 MHz)
and a west-facing horizon from the high cliffs.
Bolton and Stanley identified radio signals from three 'radio
stars' - Taurus A, Centaurus-A and Virgo-A. Taurus-A is the
remnant of the famous Crab Nebula, a supernova which
exploded in 1054 AD. The other two sources of 'cosmic
noise' are associated with galaxies outside the Milky Way.
Modern radio astronomy made a big leap forward with this discovery at Piha and this is acknowledged with this marker unveiled on 28th January 2011 by Auckland Council."
Log race Road and remains of WW2 Radar station
Marker stone and plaque "The Cosmic Noise Expedition"
"From this site in August 1948, two pioneering radio
astronomers, John Bolton and Gordon Stanley, from the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Sydney,
determined for the first time the source of radio waves from outside our solar system. The astronomical world was
astonished by this surprising opening of a new window on
the universe.
The expedition gathered data at Pakiri on the east coast,
then moved to this World War II Radar Station. Success was ensured because of a reliable electricity supply for their
trailer-mounted sea-cliff interferometer (used at 100 MHz)
and a west-facing horizon from the high cliffs.
Bolton and Stanley identified radio signals from three 'radio
stars' - Taurus A, Centaurus-A and Virgo-A. Taurus-A is the
remnant of the famous Crab Nebula, a supernova which
exploded in 1054 AD. The other two sources of 'cosmic
noise' are associated with galaxies outside the Milky Way.
Modern radio astronomy made a big leap forward with this discovery at Piha and this is acknowledged with this marker unveiled on 28th January 2011 by Auckland Council."
Log race Road and remains of WW2 Radar station