Daily Image
20-11-2007
Classic Beauty
| Submitter: | Rob Millenaar |
| Description: | The 26 metre dish of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) features as an example of the classic kind of radio telescope. Even though alternative, and very promising principles are being explored for the lower frequencies (e.g. the innovative LOFAR and EMBRACE aperture array designs), this classical paraboloid dish will remain the prime collector. A valued member of the EVN community, the red marker of this telescope regularly lights up on the giant Jive panel in the central hall of the ASTRON building. This indicates that data from this telescope is being correlated with other participating telescopes. Here are some more details of this telescope, taken from the Wêreldwye Web. The language reflects the large impact that our country has had on astronomy (just as the colloquia at the VLA were once held in Dutch): HartRAO (Hartebeesthoek Radio-astronomie Observatorium) is die enigste van sy soort in Afrika en is 50km wes van Johannesburg in 'n beskutte vallei in die Magaliesberge geleë. Die reflekterende oppervlak van die radioteleskoop is 26 meter in diameter en die radioteleskoop het `n massa van 260 ton. Die radioteleskoop is toegerus met radio-ontvangers wat in die mikrogolfband by golflengtes van 18cm, 13cm, 6cm, 5cm, 4.5cm, 3.5cm en 2.5cm funksioneer. Om maksimum sensitiwiteit te verseker, word alle ontvangers buiten een tot 16° bo absolute zero (-257° C) verkoel. Waarnemings word deur 'n rekenaar beheer. |
| Copyright: | Rob Millenaar |
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