Launch of Europe’s largest astronomy network

© BeabudaiDesign - Two astronomy networks are coming together to form Europe's largest ground-based astronomy collaborative network: the ORP. The ORP will provide scientists with access to a wide range of instruments, promote training for young astronomers, and open the way to new discoveries. The CNRS will be responsible for coordinating the ORP, which is supported by €15 million of funding from the H2020 programme. Until now, Europe has had two major collaborative networks for ground-based astronomy, one in the optical domain and the other in the radio-wave domain. OPTICON and RadioNet have now come together to form Europe's largest ground-based astronomy collaborative network. Launched with funding to the tune of €15 million under the H2020 programme, the project aims to harmonise observational methods and tools, and provide access to a wider range of astronomy facilities. The CNRS will coordinate the project, together with the University of Cambridge and the Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.