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SRT Activities

The Small Radio Telescope (SRT) was developed at MIT Haystack Observatory in Westford, MA, as a multi-disciplinary teaching tool. A radio telescope is an excellent tool that involves astronomy, digital signal processing, software development, and analysis, and combines the technologies of microwave engineering and digital computing. The Haystack SRT is capable of continuum and spectral line observations in the L-band (1.42 GHz). Since its development, several local teachers have successfully used the SRT in high school classrooms and have created educational materials that will fit into local curriculum requirements. Two SRT’s are available on trailers for use by local teachers. SRTs are also available for purchase.

If you are interested in purchasing an SRT check the CASSI Web site

A High School Curriculum
Using the Small Radio Telescope (SRT)

 

The small radio telescope is an educational tool designed to introduce students to radio astronomy. It is mainly useful for making observations of the 21 cm spectral line emitted by interstellar hydrogen gas. This line, (and its shifts) allow users of the telescope to see the galactic plane and detect the rotation of our galaxy.

To learn about the small radio telescope and how to build or buy one, consult the Small Radio Telescope page.

Activities to use with the small radio telescope:

Azimuth and elevation - an exercise to teach students how the SRT is pointed.

Learning to use the SRT - A tutorial on the use of the small radio telescope.

Beamwidth of the Eye - An activity designed to teach the concept of beamwidth and show how diffraction limits the resolution of the SRT.

Beamwidth of the Small Radio Telescope - A project using the sun to measure the beamwidth of the small radio telescope.

Looking at the Galaxy with the small radio telescope - A project using the SRT to measure the rotation of the galaxy.

Basic Data Reduction using SRT activity: A guided activity manipulating and plotting real SRT data (provided) for students. This activity does not require the SRT itself, but rather is an exploration of the data generated by the SRT.

Glactic Doppler Shifts: An SRT activity measuring the various Doppler shifts of galactic hydrogen.

Classroom Resources


Building a Small Radio Telescope - information on acquiring and building a small radio telescope.

Tutorial on Radio Astronomy - A short introduction to radio astronomy at the high school/undergraduate college level.

An introductory lesson Focusing the SRT has been created to help high school students begin to understand the operation of the SRT.

As you begin to use the SRT, see Writing Command files for the SRT to learn how to make the SRT do what YOU want it to do!

Clink on this link to go the the Haystack SRT Page

Practical Information on using an SRT

These files provide a "how-to" guide on operating an SRT, getting data and plotting the data using Excel. These activities are part of the "Outer Space is not Empty Space" lesson plan.

 

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