A rooftop radio observatory: An undergraduate telescope system at the University of California at Berkeley

Parthasarathy, R.; Frank, C; Treffers, R. R.; Cudaback, D. D.; Heiles, Carl; Hancox, C.; Millan, R. M.

doi:10.1119/1.18956

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…The optical labs are traditionally offered in the fall semester. The spring climate in northern California is unsuitable for optical observations, so a radio astronomy lab based on a rooftop 21 cm horn antenna and a two-element 12 GHz satellite dish interferometer are offered (Parthasarathy et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Infrared Camera for Leuschner Observatory and the Berkeley Undergraduate Astronomy Lab

Graham

Treffers

2001

PUBL ASTRON SOC PAC

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We describe the design, fabrication, and operation of an infrared camera which is in use at the 30-inch telescope of the Leuschner Observatory. The camera is based on a Rockwell PICNIC 256×256 pixel HgCdTe array, which is sensitive from 0.9-2.5 µm. The primary purpose of this telescope is for undergraduate instruction. The cost of the camera has been minimized by using commercial parts whereever practical. The camera optics are based on a modified Offner relay which forms a cold pupil where stray thermal radiation from the telescope is baffled. A cold, six-position filter wheel is driven by a cryogenic stepper motor, thus avoiding any mechanical feed throughs. The array control and readout electronics are based on standard PC cards; the only custom component is a simple interface card which buffers the clocks and amplifies the analog signals from the array.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Infrared Camera for Leuschner Observatory and the Berkeley Undergraduate Astronomy Lab

Graham

Treffers

2001

PUBL ASTRON SOC PAC

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Using a Radio Telescope for Developing Models in an Introductory Physics Course

Makous

Bandura

2021

The Physics Teacher

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Models are at the heart of any physics discipline, and in recent decades physics education has shifted heavily toward teaching students how to think using models. Involving students in an investigation of a real phenomenon through measurements and the applications of models is an ideal learning experience for a physics student and is the aim of project-based learning. Astronomy provides a rich discipline in which to teach physics. This paper describes the scope and sequence of an investigation of the Milky Way Galaxy using a radio telescope in a high school physics course. Specifically, by analyzing HI spectra collected with a horn radio telescope at the school, the students were able to develop a simple model of the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy. Utilizing a radio telescope in physics and astronomy courses is not a new concept. However, the telescope described here is very affordable and can be built by any teacher or student interested in doing so.

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A rooftop radio observatory: An undergraduate telescope system at the University of California at Berkeley

Cited by 2 publications

References 2 publications

An Infrared Camera for Leuschner Observatory and the Berkeley Undergraduate Astronomy Lab

An Infrared Camera for Leuschner Observatory and the Berkeley Undergraduate Astronomy Lab

Using a Radio Telescope for Developing Models in an Introductory Physics Course

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