Arquine Chronicles Ascent to Mexico's Large Millimeter Telescope on Sierra Negra
Arquine has released a detailed account of a journey to the Gran Telescopio Milimétrico (GTM) located on Sierra Negra in Puebla, Mexico. The adventure begins at 05:15 in Sierra de las Cruces, as a convoy ascends from 2,500 meters above sea level through the Valley of Mexico and into Puebla. The writer highlights the volcanoes Iztaccíhuatl, Popocatépetl, Matlacueye, and Citlaltépetl, referencing Tlaloc and additional deities. At 08:10, the group faces delays at the Amozoc toll booth and later reconvenes with local officials and INAOE at Atzitzintla. They reach the peak at 11:40. Criticism arises regarding the GTM's dish being outdated. Engineer Dave explains the telescope's functions inside. The visit wraps up at 15:30, followed by a drone photo at 16:00. A second part is postponed.
Key facts
- The article was published by Arquine and chronicles a visit to the Gran Telescopio Milimétrico (GTM) on Sierra Negra, Puebla, Mexico.
- The expedition departed at 05:15 from the Sierra de las Cruces at 2,500 meters above sea level, west of the Mexico City basin.
- The group met INAOE representatives and local authorities at Atzitzintla, a Nahua term meaning 'agüita abajo.'
- The summit of Sierra Negra is at 4,600 meters above sea level, where oxygen is scarce.
- The GTM's antenna is housed in a concrete cone whose form analogically reproduces a volcano's silhouette.
- A recently constructed visitors' center was criticized as an anachronistic, misunderstood postmodern building from the 1980s.
- Inside the telescope, engineer Dave explained that captured light can be eight billion years old, about twice Earth's age.
- The visit ran late, ending at 15:30, with a drone group photo at 16:00 before the descent.
Entities
Artists
- Dave
- Pilar
- Carl Sagan
- Stephen Hawking
Institutions
- Arquine
- Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE)
- Gran Telescopio Milimétrico (GTM)
- Parque Nacional Pico de Orizaba
Locations
- Sierra Negra
- Puebla
- Mexico
- Sierra de las Cruces
- Mexico City
- Valley of Mexico
- Valley of Puebla
- Iztaccíhuatl
- Popocatépetl
- Citlaltépetl
- Pico de Orizaba
- Amozoc
- Atzitzintla
- Jiutepec
- José G. Parres
- Gulf of Mexico
- Yemen
Sources
- Arquine —