When most people think about astronomy they think about looking up at the night sky or looking through a telescope to see planets, galaxies etc.. These telescopes capture “visible” light. Focus the light on a reflecting mirror or lens through an eyepiece showing us what the telescope is pointing at.

Visible light is only part of a larger electromagnetic spectrum containing other forms of radiation such as gamma, infrared and X rays. The electromagnetic spectrum also contains radio waves. Radio waves at specific frequencies are used for radios.

Radio telescopes capture radio waves from a number of different radio sources in the Universe. In some cases much further away from earth that any light capturing telescope. The information received from these telescopes can provide us with an array of data that gives us insights into how the Universe works.

PrimaLuceLab have developed the Radio2Space SPIDER 2.3, 3 and 5 metre turn-key radio telescopes to provide affordable easy to use telescopes for research establishments, schools and Universities. The 3 and 5M SPIDER can be used in all weathers and day and night up to a wind speed of 50km/hr.

They have an antenna which captures polarised radiowaves at 1420 MHz frequency whilst reducing background noise. These radio telescopes uses RadioUniversePRO software specially developed by PrimaLuceLab for the SPIDERs.

SPIDER uses a feedhorn antenna to provide optimal illumination of the primary reflector.  It incorporates a radiometer with 50MHz instantaneous bandwidth and spectrometer with 1024 channels with specifically designed digital filters to filter our unwanted RFIs. A very efficient amplification is necessary in radio astronomy due to the long wavelength of radio waves.

SPIDER converts polarised radio waves into digital signal that are used to record radiometric data, spectra and even radio maps. For example, customers can create radio maps of the sky, including the Milky Way. SPIDER provides high resolution data for processing and scientific research. In the control room, where the 1420 MHz receiver is installed, a computer running

RadioUniversePRO is required to control SPIDER radio telescope.

A link is provided below to the RADIO2SPACE website for further information about SPIDER.  

https://www.primalucelab.com/radio2space/radio-telescopes-for-radio-astronomy

Installation is optional for SPIDER 230C and 300A MarkII (customer can install the radio telescope by themselves or can request our Installation Service). Installation Service is mandatory only for 500A MarkII because it’s very large.

The contact at 365 Astronomy is Andy Spencer on 07760351733 or e mail: [email protected].