Radio Astronomy by Dave Cleary

Radio Astronomy
Interferometry
Solar Energy

The purpose of this site is to share my experiences experimenting with various aspects of science including radio astronomy and solar energy.

I got started with radio astronomy in November, 1997 by reading books and experimenting with FM receivers and satellite TV equipment. The FM didn't work. The satellite TV equipment did. You can read about my early attempts on my Radio Astronomy page.

Since then, I've experimented with interferometers. These kinds of systems allow you to use interference patterns to tell you're looking at objects in space instead of interference from earth. The patterns are created by the reception of radio signals from cosmic sources through two antennae spaced apart along an east/west line.

I've also experimented with radio meteor detection using FM radios. With friends from the Edmonton Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada this project developed into a science education program in about 12 Alberta grade 9 Science classes. A great deal of detail regarding how to use FM radios for meteor detection, lesson plans, and background information on radio astronomy in general and radio meteor detection specifically can be found at our website www.skyscan.ca.

The growing realization that global warming is a real problem and the Canadian government's "One Tonne Challenge" has prompted me to take a more active interest in exploring alternative energy solutions. As a result, I've taken a solar energy course led by Gordon Howell, and tried building a solar panel for heating air. The solar panel is an experiment only at this stage to test some of the principals learned in Gordon's course.

	Radio Astronomy Converted Ku Band Satellite TV equipment.
	Interferometry Experiments using 2 Ku band dishes and galvanized horns.
	Radio Astronomy Projects The Edmonton Area Radio Astronomy Group (EARAG) pursues more ambitious radio astronomy projects (Sky Scan). See our website at http://www.skyscan.ca

This page was last updated on 12/28/05 .

Radio Astronomy Web Ring