An Undergraduate Laboratory in Experimental Astronomy

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A 16-foot radio telescope operating at 1.4 GHz, with associated receivers, steering mount, data acquisition, and computer equipment will be constructed. The overall instrument will be used in a required, new laboratory course for astronomy majors, which will also involve infrared and optical instrumentation. With this radio telescope, students will be able to determine the motion of hydrogen gas in the dish of our Galaxy; detect periodic signals from a rotating neutron star, and make maps of strong radio sources like the Sun and the radio galaxy Cygnus A. Laboratory work performed by the students will also be aimed at their understanding of radio equipment and analog and digital signal processing. Cornell University is contributing to the cost of constructing the radio telescope.