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Interested in Radio Astronomy? |
2. A workshop with a selection of tools, soldering iron,
vice, drill.
3. Digital and analogue amp/voltmeters, power amplifier and loudspeaker,
a regulated variable DC power supply.
4. A computer with voltage-measuring capacity and/or chart recorder.
5. A site with aerials away from electrical appliances, computers
and other sources of interference.
6. An HF communications receiver and/or a VHF to UHF scanning
communications receiver (e.g. ICOM R-7000). Both of these will
be expensive. Cheaper alternatives can be made.
7. Preamplifiers, filters and frequency converters, various lengths of coaxial cable.
8. A calibrated noise source, VHF and UHF attenuators, an IF detector.
FP stands for full power single antenna system with up to
10 square metre effective collecting area.
PSI stands for phase-switched two antenna interferometer system
with each antenna having up to 10 square metre effective collecting
area.
(Interference State: VN = Very Noisy, N = Noisy, C = Clean)
21.85 - 21.87 MHz = VN
Start with a full power single antenna system and progress to a drift interferometer,
then specialise (e.g. switched systems, spectral-line systems, pulsar arrays). Don't
be too ambitious if you lack experience, since failure to achieve
any results may cause you to give up. Only groups and societies
will probably have access to the land necessary for interferometers,
or dishes above 7 metres.
Decide your objects of interest and thoroughly research the work
and cost involved in the appropriate radio telescope system. Make sure
you talk to someone who has operated the system of your choice.
Re-inventing the wheel all the time will slow you considerably.
If in doubt, start with a full power system for solar emissions
at 151MHz or Jupiter/Io emissions at 20.4 MHz.
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Taurus A (crab nebula),
pulsar and supernova remnant.
The following are the kinds of things that you may need to pursue radio astronomy
1. A knowledge of physics, mathematics and electronics to about
'A'-Level standard.
9. 50 MHz oscilloscope, spectrum analyser and possibly RF signal
generator.
The strongest radio sources
Source Frequency(s) System
Noisy Sun 10MHz to 10GHz FP or PSI
Quiet Sun 151MHz to 10GHz FP or PSI
Moon 1420MHz to 10GHz PSI
Jupiter Io emissions 20.4MHz FP or PSI
Cassiopeia A 151MHz to 10GHz FP or PSI
Cygnus A 151MHz to 10GHz FP or PSI
Milky Way 10MHz to 1420MHz FP
Galactic Hydrogen Line 1420.4MHz FP
Taurus A (Crab Nebula) 151MHz to 10Ghz PSI
Virgo A (M87) 151MHz to 1420MHz PSI
M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) 1350MHz to 1420MHz PSI
3C 273, 3C 295 (Quasars) 1350MHz to 1420MHz PSI
Frequencies reserved for radio astronomy
150 - 152 MHz = VN
406 - 410 MHz = C/N
608 - 610 MHz = C/N
1350 - 1427 MHz = C
1660 - 1670 MHz = C
2.67 - 2.70 GHz = C
4.95 - 5.00 GHz = C
10.6 - 10.7 GHz = C
Some advice
Small dishes and satellite equipment
can be adapted to monitor around 5 and 10 GHz.
Impressive systems take the form of steerable dishes around 2 to 7 metres operating
at 1420 MHz. PCs can be adapted to steer these systems and also monitor and store the data.
Please E-Mail us at:
trevjhill@aol.com