Shoestring Budget Radio Astronomy (Abstract)

Volume 45 number 2 (2017)

John E. Hoot

SSC Observatory, Center For Solar Systems Studies, Las Campanas Remote Observatory, 1303 S. Ola Vista, San Clemente, CA 92672; jhoot@ssccorp.com

Abstract

(Abstract only) The commercial exploitation of microwave frequencies for cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDTV, and satellite digital media transmission has brought down the cost of the components required to build an effective radio telescope to the point where, for the cost of a good eyepiece, you can construct and operate a radio telescope. This paper sets forth a family of designs for 1421 MHz telescopes. It also proposes a method by which operators of such instruments can aggregate and archive data via the Internet. With 90 or so instruments it will be possible to survey the entire radio sky for transients with a 24 hour cadence.