This is a joint venture between the Y56 Astronomy Club and Y14 Science and Astronomy Club, to make Singapore's first Open-Source Amateur Radio Telescope (as far as we are aware)
Our telescope consists of a TBD-meter parabolic antenna that allows anyone to make continuous and spectral (i.e. hydrogen line) observations of the radio sky in the TBD MHz regime for free.
The goal of this effort is to introduce students, educators, astronomers and others to the majesty of the radio sky, promoting radio astronomy education, and providing a template for interested schools and individuals to build their own telescopes
This is a fully open source (software & hardware) project.
Telescope diameter:
Focal Ratio (F/D): (prime focus antenna)
Beamwidth (HPBW @ 1420 MHz): (k factor = )
Operating frequency range:
Two-stage low-noise amplifier (LNA): Gain: 30 ± 2 dB - Noise figure (NF): < 0.5 dB
High-pass filter: -30 dBc below 900 MHz
Third-stage LNA (used as an in-line amplifier): Gain: > 9 dB *
Band-pass filter: f_center = 1420 MHz (designed for hydrogen line observations) *
Instantaneous bandwidth (IBW):
Number of channels:
S-Parameter of the monopole inside the feed:
S-Parameter of the feedhorn (with rod) - this should be the considered S-Parameter of the antenna in its entirety:
Measured with the Keysight N5221A PNA Network Analyzer (10 MHz~13.5 GHz):
Take a look at the PDF guide containing all the information you need to know in order to conduct your first observation of the radio sky!
| File | Description |
|---|---|
observe.py |
Listens for observation requests & conducts observations |
plot.py |
Produces plots from observation data |
plot_hi.py |
Produces HI-tailored plots (i.e. +calibrated spectrum) from observation data |
id_history.txt |
Serves as an observation ID history database |
fft_integration.grc |
GRC Flowgraph previously used for the recording and processing of the data |
top_block_old.py |
Embedded Python Block for fft_integration.grc |
pfb.grc |
GRC Polyphase Filterbank Flowgraph for efficient data acquisition |
top_block.py |
Embedded Python Block for pfb.grc |
observe.php |
Includes server-side PHP code for /observe |
Waveguide.stl |
STL file for feedhorn visualization |
PICTOR was built by Apostolos Spanakis-Misirlis.
Special thanks to Dr. Cameron Van Eck for his thorough guidance throughout the development of PICTOR, the Telecommunication Systems Laboratory of the Department of Digital Systems at the University of Piraeus for allowing us to conduct decisive antenna measurements, the Dwingeloo Radio Observatory (Paul Boven & Dr. Cees Bassa) for helping with the recording & the plotting of the data, Vasilis Spanakis-Misirlis for his engineering assistance, Konstantinos Bakolitsas for his support and ynk & Tino for their back-end contribution to observe.php.