JODRELL Bank last week joined forces with 16 observatories to create a virtual telescope equivalent to the size of the Earth.

It was the first time so many dishes around the world had been linked together in real-time.

During the 33-hour experiment each observatory took its turn to provide data as the planet turned.

“It was almost a feeling like the Olympic torch being passed around the world,” said Simon Garrington, director of Jodrell Bank.

The experiment was organised to launch the international year of astronomy.

Jodrell Bank linked its Lovell Telescope to dishes in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

The technique – known as e-VLBI – uses high-speed optical network cables to transfer data to a supercomputer in the Netherlands.

It allows the astronomers to watch the observations as they happen – rather than waiting for data to be posted from other centres.

Mr Garrington said that meant scientists could correct any mistakes before it was too late.

But, more importantly, they can also react to an event and tell other experts to watch it as well.

“They want to get the results straight away so they can respond to them,” said Mr Garrington.

The experiment happened between Thursday and Friday last week.

It was used to study three quasars, which are distant galaxies powered by super-massive black holes.

Jodrell Bank has taken part in similar observations before.

But never with so many telescopes that are spread so far apart.

Before the e-VLBI technology was created, experts still attempted similar experiments.

But they could not link the telescopes together.

Instead, astronomers used atomic clocks to synchronise their observations and then shipped the results to the Netherlands to be combined.

Mr Garrington said that was not ideal as it could take weeks to produce results.

“For the last four years we’ve been pushing this technology of looking at things in real-time,” he said.

“What we’re moving towards is to make all these observations like this.”

During the experiment scientists also held an opening ceremony in Paris for the international year of astronomy.

Delegates from Jodrell Bank were among more then 800 guests – including Nobel Prize winners - from 100 countries at the event.