Allen Telescope Array
The Allen Telescope Array (ATA-42), October 11, 2007.
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| Alternative names | ATA |
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| Location(s) |
Hat Creek Radio Observatory  , United States of America
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| Coordinates | 40°49′04″N 121°28′24″W / 40.8178°N 121.4733°WCoordinates: 40°49′04″N 121°28′24″W / 40.8178°N 121.4733°W |
| Organisation |
SETI Institute, Radio Astronomy Laboratory
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| Wavelength | 60, 2.7 cm (500, 11,100 MHz) |
| Built | 2005–2007 |
| Telescope style |
radio interferometer, Gregorian telescope
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| Number of telescopes | 42 |
| Diameter | 6.1 m (20 ft 0 in) |
| Secondary diameter | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
| Collecting area | 1,227 m2 (13,210 sq ft) |
| Website | www |
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The Allen Telescope Array (ATA), formerly known as the One Hectare Telescope (1hT), is a radio telescope array dedicated to astronomical observations and a simultaneous search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The array is situated at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory, 290 miles (470 km) northeast of San Francisco, California.
The project was originally developed as a joint effort between the SETI Institute and the Radio Astronomy Laboratory (RAL) at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), with funds obtained from an initial US$11.5 million donation by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The first phase of construction was completed and the ATA finally became operational on 11 October 2007 with 42 antennas (ATA-42), after Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) had pledged an additional $13.5 million to support the construction of the first and second phases.
Although overall Allen has contributed more than $30 million to the project, it has not succeeded in building the 350 6.1 m (20 ft) dishes originally conceived, and the project suffered an operational hiatus due to funding shortfalls between April and August 2011, after which observations resumed. Subsequently, UC Berkeley exited the project, completing divestment in April 2012. The facility is now managed by SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute), an independent, nonprofit research institute. As of 2016, the SETI Institute performs SETI observations with the ATA between the hours of 6 pm and 6 am each day, 7 days a week.
In August 2014, the installation was threatened by a forest fire in the area and was briefly forced to shut down, but ultimately emerged largely unscathed.
First conceived by SETI pioneer Frank Drake, the idea has been a dream of the SETI Institute for years. However, it was not until early 2001 that research and development began, after a donation of $11.5 million by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. In March 2004, following the successful completion of a three-year research and development phase, the SETI Institute unveiled a three-tier construction plan for the telescope. Construction began immediately, thanks to the pledge of $13.5 million by Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) to support the construction of the first and second phases. The SETI Institute named the telescope in Allen's honor. Overall, Paul Allen has contributed more than $30 million to the project.
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