About Radio Astronomy
|
 |
Radio astronomy is a fundamental tool in the
investigation of our universe providing information on the composition
and dynamics of stellar bodies. It can also assist us in understanding
our planet Earth by careful measurement of it's motion through
space. Radio antennas can be constructed on a much larger scale than
optical systems enabling them to see father into the universe.
Operating at radio frequency, a giant parabolic
collector focuses electromagnetic radiation towards the focus cabin
mounted on four legs above the surface. The efficiency gained by the
large reflecting surface enables the telescope to receive communications
signals from Mars and to determine precisely the location of the
telescope with respect to Pulsars in neighboring star systems. ARO was
the first observatory to demonstrate Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI),
a technology that measures continental drift and provides other high
precision geodetic data. To view a short video discussing radio
telescopes and ARO released by the Canada Science and Technology Museum
in Ottawa click here
for English version and here
for the French version.
|
|
