Signal Processing in Amateur Radio Astronomy

1. How are radio waves used in radio astronomy?
2. What is the technique known as radio astronomy?
3. What frequencies are used in radio astronomy?
4. How is interference used in radio astronomy?

How are radio waves used in radio astronomy?

Radio telescopes look toward the heavens to view planets, comets, giant clouds of gas and dust, stars, and galaxies. By studying the radio waves originating from these sources, astronomers can learn about their composition, structure, and motion.

What is the technique known as radio astronomy?

Definition: Radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies. The initial detection of radio waves from the astronomical object was created in the 1930s when Karl Jansky observed radiation coming back from the extragalactic nebula.

What frequencies are used in radio astronomy?

With the discovery of new astronomical objects and the development of better equipment and techniques, radio astronomers regularly use frequencies from the lowest allocated radio astronomy band at 13.36-13.41 MHz to frequencies above 1000 GHz.

How is interference used in radio astronomy?

However, transmitters using frequencies near those assigned to radio astronomy can cause interference to radio telescopes. This occurs when the transmitter's output is unduly “broad,” spilling over into the radio astronomy frequencies, or when the transmitter emits frequencies outside its intended range.