Would you like to build your own radio telescope to monitor solar flares, coronal mass ejections, or any kind of sudden ionosphere disturbance (SID)?
Author and radio telescope builder Percival Andrews takes your through the complete theory and practice of how to build your own solar storm radio telescope.
The solar storm radio telescope is designed to be inexpensive and easy to build. It monitors very low frequency (VLF) radio signals traveling through the ionosphere. The antenna is constructed from a wire coil (no parabolic dish to worry about), and simple, readily available electronic components. The system is fully computerized, and free software is included.
How To Build Your Own Radio Telescope is distributed as an eBook in PDF format. Buy safely with PayPal and your copy will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours, usually within 24 hours.
Thank you very much indeed for your interest in my book. Please feel free to get in touch.
Percival Andrews percival.andrews@gmail.com
Table of contents
1. Why build a radio telescope? |
2. Introducing the Solar Storm Radio Telescope (SSRT) |
3. What you’ll need to build the SSRT |
4. Finding a suitable radio transmitter |
5. Building the on-board electronics |
6. Building the antenna |
7. Installing the radio telescope |
8. Installing the PC software and finding the signal |
9. Optimizing the performance of the radio telescope |
10. Interpreting the radio telescope signal |
11. What next? |
| A1. System diagram |
| A2. Electronic schematic diagram |
| A3. Electronics parts list |
| A4. Signal generator |
| A5. Data collection for the AAVSO |
Software
Distributed free with the book is Percival Andrews' own open source radio telescope monitoring software, SSRT Robot. Full Visual Basic .NET 2005 source code is also included for users who wish to extend or adapt the software for their own purposes. Other software needed for operating the SSRT is available as freeware on the internet.
(Microsoft Windows XP / Vista)
Book details
© Percival Andrews, 2007
64 pages, 52 color illustrations and diagrams
1.4 MB, printable, e-mail friendly, Adobe Acrobat PDF file
Detailed explanations throughout of the theory and practice of solar storm monitoring
Full schematic diagrams for electronic all circuits
List of parts and part numbers from Digi-Key (international supplier)
Open source software distributed free with the book
Note for radio telescope builders
The radio telescope described in the book is very low power and therefore quite safe. The following precautions will ensure trouble-free operation:
1. Be aware that the antenna could be a hazard during a thunderstorm. You should disconnect the antenna during a thunderstorm, especially if it is outdoors
2. The solar storm radio telescope connects to a PC via a sound card. You can make use of a low cost external USB sound card if you don't want to connect anything directly to your PC
Some links of interest
Solar storm radio telescope in operation in the eastern hemisphere
Sudden ionosphere disturbance (SID) monitoring in France
FM radio astronomy for observing falling meteors
Radio telescope enthusiasts said...
"The book is really a great resource and one that observers will probably want to have"
Mike Hill, Chairman SID section, AAVSO
"Well done for an excellent treatise on radio telescope building"
H.R., London, U.K.
"I didn't realize that making a radio telescope would actually be quite straightforward. An ideal project for the amateur scientist"
P.B., Melbourne, Australia
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