A SimpleRadioTelescope Operating at KuBandforEducational Purposes

A small radio telescope hasbeendeveloped, whichcanbeinstalled athighschools anduniversities tofurther theinterest of students inscience andtechnology. Thetelescope kitisbasedon existing commercially available satellite television equipment. Safeassembly andoperation ofthetelescope wereprimary drivers inthedesign ofthesystem, along withthe needtokeepthecostdownto-6,000 Euros. Thetelescope usesa1.2m diameter dishandareceiver operating atKuband (10-12 GHz). Thesystem hasabasic tracking capability, andisremotely commandedthrough acomputer interface. Detailed user-friendly manuals werewritten toenable students toassemble, calibrate, andoperate thetelescope themselves, under theguidance ofa highschool teacher. Theperformance oftheprototype telescope wasevaluated, andsunandmoon observations wereexecuted. Although thelowcostofthesystem leads tolimitations insensitivity andpointing accuracy, there arenonetheless significant pedagogical benefits fromthis project inavariety ofeducational subjects involving science andtechnology. A numberofextensions tothebasic telescope kit maybeimplemented toimprove itsperformance.