Purtroppo, questa descrizione non è stato tradotto in italiano, in modo da trovare a questo punto una descrizione inglese.
Objects that make up the Universe emit a lot of electromagnetic waves at different frequencies which are, almost all, filtered by Earth atmosphere. However radio waves pass through unhindered and can be captured by amateurs astronomers, too, thanks to SPIDER230. This radio telescope was developed by PrimaLuceLab to be the first instrument for amateur radio astronomy to allow everyone to approach this fascinating science with simplicity and an approachable cost with a single, all-in, high-performance product.
An amateur radio telescope with large 2,3 meter diameter parabolic antenna: The SPIDER230 amateur radio telescope uses the WEB230 antenna, a mesh 2.3-meter diameter parabolic antenna designed to offer a large diameter with the lowest possible weight. It weighs much less than a normal 1.5 meters diameter full-surface model in respect to which it offers a better resolution capacity (due to greater diameter) and a lower wind sensitivity (since the surface is perforated). The reflecting surface of this antenna (the primary reflector) is composed of an aluminum mesh with 2x2 mm squared holes for optimum reflectivity of radio waves with frequencies up to 12 GHz. Mesh material is positioned and installed by hand by our technicians in order to obtain a parabolic surface as accurate as possible (within the limits of the mechanical support). The result is a superior quality mesh parabolic antenna that offers a higher gain and a more precise parabolic shape.
Designed to be used with equatorial mounts: The SPIDER230 amateur radio telescope is designed to use with computerized equatorial mounts already used by amateur astronomers in normal optical telescopes. These mounts offer, a high load capacity and pointing/tracking precision at a low price. We supply the SPIDER230 with an N-EQ6 SynScan mount but you can install our WEB230 antenna on different equatorial mounts with at least 25 kg load capacity and Losmandy dovetail (the same used by many telescopes) using it just like a normal telescope. For the correct operation of the radio telescope, the equatorial mount is not installed on the tripod (which often does not have sufficient rigidity) but on a separate column (which we provide with the SPIDER230): in this way the parabolic antenna, while moving, never faces the impact risk against the underlying support.
Designed to work with a RadioAstroLab RAL10PL receiver: Our amateur radio telescope is designed to work with the RadioAstroLab receivers: this model is provided with a RAL10PL Total-Power receiver working at 11.2 GHz with a Ku band feeder and high gain 4106C LNB. RAL10PL was developed to bring amateurs to radio astronomy in order to record the most intense radio sources in the sky and offers high sensitivity and signal stability at an affordable price.
RAL10PL is a special version designed specifically for use with the SPIDER230. In fact it allows the remote control of all operating parameters that can then be set directly in RadioUniverse providing control software: gain, offset and integration time. It also features an integratedthermal stabilizer system in order to minimize the gain drift of the receiving system, optimizing the instrument stability.
Alignment optical finder for mounts: Computerized equatorial mounts require (for their proper functioning), to be aligned to the stars in the sky. For this reason, we have developed a special finder bracket with a optical finder that is installed on the counterweights shaft and that allows you to point this radio telescope to the same area of the sky " viewed" by parabolic antenna. So, when you turn on the radio telescope for the first time and you want to align it to the sky, you can use this finder to point the stars. In order to store the alignment you can use the mount "parking" function: turning on the radio telescope, SPIDER230 will then correctly point to objects in the sky also during the day. You can then use the finder in order to verify the correct pointing of the radio telescope during normal use.
The finder bracket is equipped with 6 screws with knobs in order to to adjust precisely the position of the finder in respect with antenna. Along with this, we include a high quality and durability sunscreen glass by Thousand Oaks. The filter is inserted in front of the finder when using the radio telescope during the day.
Equatorial mounts support device: Our equatorial mounts support device (patent pending) allows you to install the WEB230 antenna on any equatorial mount (with Losmandy dovetail and load capacity of at least 25 kg, ie. EQ6 type). Thanks to two counterweights sliding system with protection against accidental drops, you can get a perfect balance even in declination axis for maximum tracking and automatic goto performances of the mount. Without counterweights the radio telescope would be completely biased towards the front (pecause of the weight of the primary reflector and LNB + illuminator group with support rods) and therefore could not properly point and track objects in the sky.
A special system of rear tie rods increases the rigidity of the structure while minimizing the deformation of such a big diameter parabolic dish.
RadioUniverse control software: Included with every SPIDER230 radio telescope, our RadioUniverse software allows you to control the antenna position and acquisition parameters of RAL10PL receiver. This way you can not only record radiometric data coming from the sky but also transits or radio-images of radio sources in the sky you want to study. A window shows the entire sky with the position of the main radio sources with respect to stars and constellations.
SPIDER23 radio telescope connects to control computer via a single network cable (Ethernet). The mount and the receiver send the data to the control electronics contained in waterproof box with the receiver. The data is then converted and sent to the control PC via a single network cable that can be up to 100 meters.
RUviz processing software: When you want to record the faint radio waves coming from radio sources outside of the Solar System, the data processing is critical. That's why we designed RUvizsoftware (RadioUniverseVisualizer) which allows you to import data captured by RadioUniverse and process them in a very simple and fast way. In this way it is possible, starting from the registration of several consecutive transits of the sky area that you want to analyze, to create radio maps of faint radio sources such as Cassiopeia A and Taurus A.
RUviz uses special algorithms in order to to reduce the signal drift caused by the change of the antenna pointing. Other features allow you to minimize the drifts due to variations in ambient temperature.
Reliable results: SPIDER230 is designed to record radio waves coming not only from strong sources such as the Sun or the Moon, but also from more distant objects, that until now were studied only by professionals!
Thanks to its high sensitivity, it is possible to record radio waves coming from weak objects such as Cassiopeia A (supernova remnant), Cygnus A (radio galaxy) or Taurus A (M1, supernova remnant). Thanks to the advanced features of SPIDER230 and RadioUniverse software, for each object you can get different results: radio-images, transits or continuous monitoring of a single point.
In the Box: Complete and functional instrument
- WEB230 parabolic dish with support device for equatorial mounts
- N-EQ6 SkyScan equatorial mount with Synscan and 2 counterweights
- Alignment optical finder system on mount counterweight shaft
- 50mm finder, 8 magnifications, with glass solar filter
- Column for installation on a concrete base and EQ6 flange connection
- RAL10PL receiver thermal stabilized and with waterproof box
- Ku-band feed-horn
- High gain and stability Ku-band 4106C LNB
- RadioUniverse control and RUviz processing software
- User and installation manual (english and italian)
