STFC’s Post

New day, new telescope. The Sardinia Radio Telescope (#SRT) Observatory is situated in San Basilio, Cagliari. It is a research facility managed by the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica). Launched in 2013, the SRT features a 64-meter diameter, making it one of Europe's most innovative and high-performance radio telescopes designed for studying cosmic radio waves. Besides serving as an ideal tool for various astronomical applications in its "single antenna" mode, SRT is equipped for interferometric observations through the VLBI network. This network includes multiple European antennas and other Italian INAF facilities located in Medicina (Bologna) and Noto (Syracuse).   SRT became the focal point of an ambitious project initiated in 2019, aimed at enhancing its full potential in high-frequency radio astronomy. This transformative endeavor, now on the verge of completion, was made feasible through a significant allocation of nearly 19 million euros under the PON funding scheme of the Ministry of University and Research. The primary objective of this project was to elevate SRT's observation capabilities to 116 GHz, while also dedicating resources to fortify the radio telescopes in Medicina and Noto, thereby broadening the project's influence across diverse frontiers.   The following four high-frequency receivers have been developed inside this project: The W Band Receiver, spanning 70 – 116 GHz, facilitates polarimetric studies and detects complex organic molecules. The Q Band Receiver (33 – 50 GHz) excels at capturing continuous radio emissions and conducting spectro-polarimetry. For observing low surface brightness cosmic emissions, the Bolometric Millimetre Camera (77 – 103 GHz) is deployed. The Simultaneous Microwave Compact Triple-Band Receiving System covering K, Q, and W bands was developed in three units to serve also Medicina and Noto. These integrated receivers, along with advanced backends and a sophisticated metrology system, ensure high-quality data processing, while a high-performance computing network enhances scientific potential.   The high-frequency upgrade of the Sardinia Radio Telescope offers an invitation to delve into the realm of radio astronomy. This undertaking provides an open gateway for seasoned astronomers and enthusiasts of the cosmos alike. Through the augmentation of SRT's capabilities, we embark on a more profound exploration of the universe's enigmatic mysteries. This odyssey stands as a testament to human curiosity, and we find ourselves at the inception of an exhilarating adventure in the field of radio astronomy.   CRAF has three delegates from Italian institutions, Pietro Bolli (INAF) who is the CRAF budget manager, Vincenza Tornatore (Politecnico di Milano), and Fabio Giovanardi (INAF). Fabio will be part of our #WRC23 delegation.   Photo: Sardinia Radio Telescope. Credits: Marta Burgay/INAF

https://lnkd.in/gg44RQEb 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

China-France SVOM Gamma Ray Astronomy Satellite to Explore Early Universe FriendsofNASA.org: The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) gamma ray astronomy satellite was successfully launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Saturday, June 22, 2024. It represents a milestone in international space collaboration. Developed jointly by Chinese and French scientists over nearly two decades, SVOM carries two French and two Chinese scientific payloads designed to detect distant space phenomena known as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Researchers from both countries believe the SVOM monitoring satellite will help advance their investigations in many fields of astrophysics, including the origins of the universe and of elements on Earth. "The gamma-ray burst is a tool to observe the early universe. We can observe maybe the first stars. And this is very interesting because this is the only way to do that, said Bertrand Cordier, French lead researcher of the SVOM project. Wei Jianyan, the Chinese principal investigator of SVOM, said the satellite can help researchers expand their collection of observed astronomical phenomena and better understand the Earth. "We can discover some special types of gamma-ray bursts, as well as the relatively rare ones. We have already known some common types, as it has been studied for two or three decades. But there are still rare ones, high redshift gamma ray bursts, for example. And very interestingly, it helps us understand where some of the elements on earth come from, including gold and silver that we often wear," he said. Researchers said the two countries' cooperation will lead to great progress in their research. "We use China's BeiDou satellite system. If we on the ground see a very interesting target in space, we can tell our satellite to point at it in a matter of minutes. As far as I know, this process used to take 20 minutes in international practice. With the BeiDou system, we can respond in a few minutes, and that's a big step forward. This can be effective in detecting swift events," said Wei. The BeiDou satellite navigation system is a space-based radio navigation service owned and operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). "China, as you said, has developed several missions that are looking to gamma-ray burst, but we are working together. I'm also involved in the Einstein commission, and the idea is to have a very powerful system with many satellites; the idea is to have a way to work together in order to enhance the scientific study," said Cordier. Credit: CCTV Time: 2 min Date: (06-23-24) Philippe Baptiste Centre National d'Études Spatiales #NASA #CNSA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #SVOM #Satellite #BeiDou #GammaRays #GammaRayBursts #Universe #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #Astrophysics #Heliophysics #InternationalCooperation #France #CNES #STEM #Education #HD #Video

https://lnkd.in/gG-crUG3 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/es5FBqXV 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

China-France SVOM Gamma Ray Astronomy Satellite to Explore Early Universe FriendsofNASA.org: The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) gamma ray astronomy satellite was successfully launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Saturday, June 22, 2024. It represents a milestone in international space collaboration. Developed jointly by Chinese and French scientists over nearly two decades, SVOM carries two French and two Chinese scientific payloads designed to detect distant space phenomena known as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Researchers from both countries believe the SVOM monitoring satellite will help advance their investigations in many fields of astrophysics, including the origins of the universe and of elements on Earth. "The gamma-ray burst is a tool to observe the early universe. We can observe maybe the first stars. And this is very interesting because this is the only way to do that, said Bertrand Cordier, French lead researcher of the SVOM project. Wei Jianyan, the Chinese principal investigator of SVOM, said the satellite can help researchers expand their collection of observed astronomical phenomena and better understand the Earth. "We can discover some special types of gamma-ray bursts, as well as the relatively rare ones. We have already known some common types, as it has been studied for two or three decades. But there are still rare ones, high redshift gamma ray bursts, for example. And very interestingly, it helps us understand where some of the elements on earth come from, including gold and silver that we often wear," he said. Researchers said the two countries' cooperation will lead to great progress in their research. "We use China's BeiDou satellite system. If we on the ground see a very interesting target in space, we can tell our satellite to point at it in a matter of minutes. As far as I know, this process used to take 20 minutes in international practice. With the BeiDou system, we can respond in a few minutes, and that's a big step forward. This can be effective in detecting swift events," said Wei. The BeiDou satellite navigation system is a space-based radio navigation service owned and operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). "China, as you said, has developed several missions that are looking to gamma-ray burst, but we are working together. I'm also involved in the Einstein commission, and the idea is to have a very powerful system with many satellites; the idea is to have a way to work together in order to enhance the scientific study," said Cordier. Both sides approved the SVOM mission in 2006. It is hoped it will run longer than the satellite's designed lifespan of 5 years into the next decade. Credit: CCTV Time: 2 min Date: (06-23-24) Mahammad Haneef #NASA #CNSA #Space #Astronomy #Science #China #中国 #SVOM #Satellite #BeiDou #GammaRays #Universe #SpaceTechnology #SpaceExploration #Astrophysics #InternationalCooperation #France #CNES #STEM #Education #HD #Video

https://lnkd.in/eMNwAYAq 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/eHXrMqRS 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/erurGfyi 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/eeY5P99P 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