What is this thing?

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mykl@lemmy.world

What is this building I passed marked "Critical Area?" (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago by ivanafterall@lemmy.world to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

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I drove by it yesterday and wondered about the weird bowling pin shape.

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[–] 667@lemmy.radio 65 points 2 days ago (3 children)

This is an aviation navigation beacon called a VOR, VHF Omnidirectional Radio beacon. The successor to NDB (Non-directional Radio Beacon), and the predecessor to GPS.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF_omnidirectional_range

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So cool, thank you!

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Certainly! Here you can see it in a navigational context: https://skyvector.com/?ll=35.00132396086607%2C-81.93470676527723&chart=425&zoom=1&fpl=SPA

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Witchcraft, but really neat.

[–] darkdemize@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago

As someone who used to work on VORs, witchcraft is a really good way to describe them.

[–] Pistcow@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Soooo the Astronomicon?

[–] glups@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

And also a nested acronym