ASSA Radio Astronomy Group

21cm Radio Telescope

My 21cm radio telescope consists of three primary components, an antenna, a receiver and a computer.

Antenna

The antenna is a 3.05 metre diameter parabolic reflector with a focal length of 1.172 metres. A cylindrical feedhorn is mounted above the reflector in prime focus configuration. The reflector was manufactured by Siemens for Telecom Australia (Telstra Corp.) and has spent much of it's life as a communications link at the top of Mt.Macedon in rural Victoria. All modifications and conversion to the present configuration have been carried out by myself and my brother inlaw, Tony Davies.

The beamwidth of the antenna is 0.07 radians which covers approx 4° of the sky at any one time. The antenna is mounted in a drift scan configuration, aimed at the site zenith point. It is currently located in the Adelaide Hills, Grid reference - PF95ke.