The Itty Bitty Telescope and Sidewalk Radio Astronomy
The Itty Bitty Telescope and Sidewalk Radio Astronomy Sue Ann Heatherly National Radio Astronomy Observatory www. nrao. edu
What is radio astronomy? 2
Radio Waves are NOT sound! 3
A light wave is a light wave, no matter how long. . . 4
Radio Telescope Optical Telescope Nowadays, there are more similarities between optical and radio telescopes than ever before. 5
Optical and radio astronomy can be done from the ground! Credit: Windows to the Universe, thence to NASA/STSCI/JHU 6
A Tour of the Radio Sky 7
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Gas Spectra Neon Sodium Hydrogen 9
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Building an Itty Bitty Telescope GBT IBT David Fields with kids in Memphis
RV Kit--$60 from Ebay 12 GHz satellite dish combined with a signal meter becomes a radio telescope!
Constructing the dish 22
Realigning the mounting sleeve
Realigning the mounting sleeve
Realigning the mounting sleeve
Realigning the mounting sleeve
Realigning the mounting sleeve
Mounting Sleeve Schematic 28
Mounting the Dish
Mounting the Dish
Mounting the Dish
Mounting the Dish
Mounting the Dish
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Detectors produce an audible tone which increases in pitch when you detect radio signals. Most expensive ($99). Has built in battery. Mid-priced ($50), needs a power supply. Cheapie! ($15), needs a power supply.
Making the power supply 41
Preparing the Coax
Preparing the Coax
Preparing the Coax
Preparing the Coax
Preparing the Coax
Preparing the Coax
Assembling the battery pack 48
Assembling the battery pack 49
Assembling the battery pack 50
Assembling the battery pack 51
Assembling the battery pack 52
Assembling the battery pack 53
Assembling the battery pack 54
Assembling the battery pack 55
Assembling the battery pack 56
Assembling the battery pack 57
Assembling the battery pack 58
Assembling the battery pack 59
Assembling the battery pack 60
Assembling the battery pack 61
Battery Pack Schematic 62
Done! Using the IBT 63
The Sun emits radio waves! 64
The Sun emits radio waves! 65
You emit radio waves! Play “cheapsigmeter 2. wav 66
Geostationary satellites ( Can you find 0° dec? ) 67
Trees (the ground, buildings, anything with a temperature) emit radio waves! Play channel. wav 68
Questions? sheather@nrao. edu 69
- Slides: 69