African Astronomical Society’s Post

https://lnkd.in/eh7_yGA2 Exploring the Universe A Journey from Arecibo to FAST eBook Chapter 1: Introduction to Radio Astronomy The History of Radio Astronomy Radio astronomy, a fascinating field that allows us to study the universe using radio waves, has a rich and intriguing history. From its humble beginnings to the groundbreaking discoveries of today, the journey of radio astronomy has been one of constant innovation and discovery. In this subchapter, we will explore the milestones that have shaped the field, from Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory to China’s F.A.S.T. radio telescope. The origins of radio astronomy can be traced back to the early 1930s when Karl Jansky, an engineer at Bell Labs, accidentally discovered radio waves emanating from the Milky Way. This accidental discovery sparked the interest of scientists and astronomers, leading to the establishment of the first radio observatories. One of the most iconic radio observatories in the world is the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Built in the 1960s, this massive dish-shaped antenna became the world’s largest single-aperture telescope for decades. Its unique design and strategic location allowed astronomers to observe celestial obj

Astronomers make groundbreaking cosmological catalog with data from MeerKAT telescope: A group of international astronomers from the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS) collaboration recently completed a groundbreaking project using the MeerKAT radio telescope. With its exceptional sensitivity and imaging fidelity, the telescope produced a catalog of radio sources from over 391 telescope pointings, making it the largest catalog from any MeerKAT survey to date. The researchers identified over one million sources, a significant achievement in radio astronomy. MALS focused on depth rather than sky coverage, allowing it to detect many sources for the first time. The images and catalogs were analyzed and prepared for public release at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Germany by Jonah Wagenveld, the lead author of the paper. To produce deep images from the vast amounts of raw data, a complex processing pipeline and data storage facility were established at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in India. This extensive catalog allowed MALS to conduct a cosmological dipole measurement, which can be used to understand the structure of the universe. The findings suggest that the observed dipole effect might not be solely due to the motion velocity of the Solar system, but rather a genuine difference in the density of sources in different areas of the sky, contrary to current cosmological models. This study showcases the remarkable sensitivity and accuracy of the MeerKAT radio telescope. The conclusion also underscores the precision of the sophisticated processing pipeline and data storage facility at IUCAA in India, highlighting their significance in deriving accurate and insightful results from large and complex data sets. The milestone measurement sets the stage for future large-scale radio surveys and accuracy measurements. It allows for more effective observations of galaxy structures, contributing to a better understanding of the universe and our place in it. These findings demonstrate significant advancements in cosmology achievable through advanced technologies and techniques, as demonstrated in this study by MALS.

An international team of astronomers have used National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to determine key characteristics of a newly-discovered magnetar, Swift J1818.0-1617, to unprecedented levels of precision. When a neutron star forms with a fast pulsar-like spin and a magnetic field thousands of times stronger than a typical neutron star, it’s given the designation magnetar. These stars pack roughly double the mass of our Sun into a physical size on the scale of tens of kilometers— the size of a city. Full article: https://lnkd.in/e_DmEura

https://lnkd.in/eUq43KGq Exploring the Universe A Journey from Arecibo to FAST eBook Chapter 1: Introduction to Radio Astronomy The History of Radio Astronomy Radio astronomy, a fascinating field that allows us to study the universe using radio waves, has a rich and intriguing history. From its humble beginnings to the groundbreaking discoveries of today, the journey of radio astronomy has been one of constant innovation and discovery. In this subchapter, we will explore the milestones that have shaped the field, from Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory to China’s F.A.S.T. radio telescope. The origins of radio astronomy can be traced back to the early 1930s when Karl Jansky, an engineer at Bell Labs, accidentally discovered radio waves emanating from the Milky Way. This accidental discovery sparked the interest of scientists and astronomers, leading to the establishment of the first radio observatories. One of the most iconic radio observatories in the world is the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Built in the 1960s, this massive dish-shaped antenna became the world’s largest single-aperture telescope for decades. Its unique design and strategic location allowed astronomers to observe celestial obj

https://lnkd.in/dVTgi4Qw Exploring the Universe A Journey from Arecibo to FAST eBook Chapter 1: Introduction to Radio Astronomy The History of Radio Astronomy Radio astronomy, a fascinating field that allows us to study the universe using radio waves, has a rich and intriguing history. From its humble beginnings to the groundbreaking discoveries of today, the journey of radio astronomy has been one of constant innovation and discovery. In this subchapter, we will explore the milestones that have shaped the field, from Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory to China’s F.A.S.T. radio telescope. The origins of radio astronomy can be traced back to the early 1930s when Karl Jansky, an engineer at Bell Labs, accidentally discovered radio waves emanating from the Milky Way. This accidental discovery sparked the interest of scientists and astronomers, leading to the establishment of the first radio observatories. One of the most iconic radio observatories in the world is the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Built in the 1960s, this massive dish-shaped antenna became the world’s largest single-aperture telescope for decades. Its unique design and strategic location allowed astronomers to observe celestial obj