As noted in a previous message to our user community, the LMT has been without power for a number of months. The loss of power followed a severe electrical storm at the 4600m-altitude LMT site which damaged the input power line and our power station at the mountain summit. Last week, repairs to the system were completed and power to the telescope was fully restored.

March 7, 2024 – Power Restored at the LMT

As noted in a previous message to our user community, the LMT has been without power for a number of months. The loss of power followed a severe electrical storm at the 4600m-altitude LMT site which damaged the input power line and our power station at the mountain summit. Last week, repairs to the system were completed and power to the telescope was fully restored, allowing us to get fully back on the air. All major telescope systems are still in good shape, following the long shutdown. The Redshift Search Receiver, SEQUOIA, and the 1mm receiver are all on-line, and they have been in use as we do antenna testing and pointing measurements. The TolTEC instrument is being cooled down and should be ready for initial sky tests in about a week’s time. We are hopeful that the weather this spring will be kind as we press forward with carry-over observations from LMT Observing Semester 2023-S1 and new programs in Semester 2024-S1.