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The Itty Bitty Telescope and
Sidewalk Radio Astronomy
Sue Ann Heatherly
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
www.nrao.edu
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What is radio astronomy?
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Radio Waves are NOT sound!
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A light wave is a light wave, no matter how
long...
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Radio Telescope
Optical Telescope
Nowadays, there are more
similarities between
optical and radio
telescopes than ever
before.
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Optical and radio astronomy can be done from the ground!
Credit: Windows to
the Universe, thence
to NASA/STSCI/JHU
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A
Tour
of the
Radio
Sky
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Gas Spectra
Neon
Sodium
Hydrogen
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Building an
Itty Bitty Telescope
GBT
IBT
David Fields with kids in Memphis
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RV Kit--$60 from Ebay
12 GHz satellite dish combined with a signal meter
becomes a radio telescope!
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Constructing the dish
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Realigning the mounting sleeve
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Mounting Sleeve Schematic
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Mounting the Dish
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Finishing Up
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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.
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Making the power supply
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Preparing the Coax
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Assembling the battery pack
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Battery Pack Schematic
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Done!
Using
the
IBT
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The Sun emits radio waves!
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You emit radio waves!
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Geostationary satellites ( Can you find 0° dec?)
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Trees (the ground, buildings, anything with a
temperature) emit radio waves!
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Questions?
[email protected]
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