Observations of total solar eclipses at short millimeter waves

The solar chromosphere is the source of the main part of the solar millimeter wave radiation. Its observation is very interesting for investigations of this very dynamic inhomogeneous layer near the solar temperature minimum. The lunar edge section method during solar eclipses gives some possibilities for the analysis of solar compact objects (the limb, active regions, filaments and so on) with high angular resolution using relatively low angular resolution instruments. Thus small millimeter wave radio telescopes may be useful for solar eclipse expedition observations. Such an instrument with antenna dish diameter of 0.6 m (RT-0.6) was designed at Bauman MSTU, in 1987. The antenna is equatorial mounted and moved in right ascension by a short-stepping quartz-controlled motor. The telescope is equipped with 3.4 mm wavelength heterodyne radiometer. Its sensitivity is 0.1 K with a 0.5 GHz bandwidth and 1 s integration time. The total weight of the telescope is 20 kg. Therefore it is useful for aircraft trips.