Daily Image
09-09-2009
Stars in their eyes!
| Submitter: | Michael Garrett |
| Description: | Earlier this year, some of the Leiden MSc. class visited ASTRON. This year the students have been following the new Master's course on Radio Astronomy. The course covers all aspects of radio astronomy, from LOFAR to ALMA, and from the Cosmic Microwave Background to Planetary radar (see http://www.astron.nl/~mag/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=radio_astronomy_course_description) for more details. Despite severe thunderstorms on the day of the visit, the students were able to see both Westerbork and Dwingeloo, though unfortunately the visit to Exloo and LOFAR had to be abandoned. They were also able to view various parts of the WSRT system, as well as the EMBRACE radome (see the main image above). After a quick concluding lecture on SETI, the students also enjoyed a tour of the facilities here in Dwingeloo - a few of the students had a strong technical background and were impressed by what they saw in the R&D laboratories. They also visited the Dwingeloo 25-metre, and directly experienced the thrill of driving "on source". As Cyg-A moved into the telescope's beam, the students could hear directly the increased noise level due to the source, via an audio speaker channel (courtesy Paul Boven, JIVE). The students then enjoyed a traditional ASTRON "borrel", together with various other ASTRON & JIVE staff members. With examinations having taken place in the summer, I'm pleased to report that all the students have passed the course (so far). They have proved to be a bright and enthusiastic group, and we certainly hope that those that remain in astronomy will return to ASTRON as the next generation of astronomers and engineers. |
| Copyright: | ASTRON |
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