A Simple Radio Telescope Operating at Ku Band for Educational Purposes

A small radio telescope has been developed, which can be installed at high schools and universities to further the interest of students in science and technology. The telescope kit is based on existing commercially available satellite television equipment. Safe assembly and operation of the telescope were primary drivers in the design of the system, along with the need to keep the cost down to ~6,000 Euros. The telescope uses a 1.2 m diameter dish and a receiver operating at Ku band (10-12 GHz). The system has a basic tracking capability, and is remotely commanded through a computer interface. Detailed user-friendly manuals were written to enable students to assemble, calibrate, and operate the telescope themselves, under the guidance of a high school teacher. The performance of the prototype telescope was evaluated, and sun and moon observations were executed. Although the low cost of the system leads to limitations in sensitivity and pointing accuracy, there are nonetheless significant pedagogical benefits from this project in a variety of educational subjects involving science and technology. A number of extensions to the basic telescope kit may be implemented to improve its performance.