TechnologyObserving FacilitiesEducation and OutreachAbout Haystack

GPS

 

Where Am I?

Humans have long been seeking answers to the question of "Where am I?" From early navigators to modern day users of GPS equipment, science has played a role in answering this question. This quest has many connections to the work at the Haystack Observatory: from celestial observations, to space weather effects on GPS, and VBLI studies of geodesy and the motions of the Earth's plates.

All of these are based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves and their interference.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS relies heavily on the very precise timing of how long it takes for radio transmissions from satellites to travel to your GPS receiver. This timing is very dependent on the accuracy of the clocks on the satellites and receivers, the state of the atmosphere, and activity in the ionosphere. The exploration of GPS can include mapping projects, the study of electromagnetic wave propagation, and the analysis of the ionosphere (as performed by the Millstone Radar.)

Go to the GPS Page for links explaining how GPS works and a lesson plan that explores the operations of GPS units and their relationship to work that is being performed at Haystack.

(More can be learned about the ionosphere and the Millstone Radar at our Atmospheric Science Page.)

For more background information on location and GPS check out the NOVA-Online presentation Lost at Sea: The Search for Longitude. This site includes several Shockwave demonstrations that explain the difficulties in determining longitude as well provide an visual presentation about how GPS works. A Teacher's Guide is also presented as part of the NOVA site.
You may also read The Passage of Time for a brief history of man's attempts to tell time.

 

HOME  |  CONTACT  |  DIRECTIONS  |  WEATHER  |  INTRANET  |  SITEMAP  |  SEARCH
Astronomy

Science

Haystack Radio Telescope

Wideband VLBI

Radio Arrays (EDGES, MWA, SKA, MAPS, Deuterium)

Small Radio Telescope (SRT)

Publications

Geodesy

Haystack VLBI Updates

Science

Westford Radio Telescope

Mark 4 VLBI Correlator

VLBI Technique Development

International VLBI Service (IVS)

Publications

Atmospheric Sciences

Science

Millstone Hill Observatory

Madrigal

Array Systems

Open Source Projects

Space Science Resources

Publications

Technology

Radio Arrays (EDGES, MWA, SKA, MAPS, Deuterium)

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)

Haystack Memo Series

Ionospheric Techniques

Open Source Projects

Observing Facilities

Haystack Radio Telescope

Westford Radio Telescope

Millstone Hill Radar

Deuterium Array

Atmospheric Optics Facility

Education and Outreach

Undergraduate Research

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

Pre-College Resources

Public Outreach Activities

About Haystack

Northeast Radio Observatory Corp. (NEROC)

Publications

News Archive

Glossary

Staff

Positions Available

Art at Haystack

History

Computing

Library

Networks

Safety Manual

Seminars

CloseSEARCH: