Publications & Presentations

Click on links below to read publications from Lichfield Radio Observatory:

Publications:

Observing Report: Mapping the galactic arms of the Milky Way in hydrogen when the observer has minimal knowledge of radio equipment and electronics and a very limited budget October and November 2023. Andrew Thornett. Journal of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers November – December 2023.

Presentations:

Getting started in hydrogen line radio observing using a military dipole array antenna, Andrew Thornett, Western Conference of Society of Amateur Radio Astronomy, 8-9 April 2024. Abstract published in Journal of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers January – February 2024.

Abstract:

Mapping the arms of Milky Way at 1420.405Mhz and determining the Milky Way’s rotation curve has been achieved by many observers with a wide variety of instruments and antennae. The development of readily available, cheap radio equipment, excellent programs for inexperienced observers, and new beginner-friendly software, these observations are easier to achieve than ever before. This paper describes the author’s journey and success in this field with the help of the SARA Scope in a Box package, a cheap commercial software defined radio, a repurposed UK military band 3 dipole array < 1m Square, and the ezRA (Easy Radio Astronomy) suite of software, from a radio-noisy urban environment in Staffordshire, England, UK, and how this has encouraged him to take up a wide range of other radio astronomy activities, and to become an advocate for radio astronomy amongst other amateurs without a radio or electronics background.

Total beginners guide to attempting to get started in hydrogen line interferometry using very small dishes < 1m in size, Andrew Thornett, Western Conference of Society of Amateur Radio Astronomy, 8-9 April 2024. Abstract published in Journal of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers January – February 2024.

Abstract:

Many newcomers to the amateur radio astronomy have no background in amateur radio, electronics or engineering but do have passion and a desire to expand their horizons beyond observational astronomy and astrophotography. They are keen to explore the same kind of areas covered by professional radio observatories. Current professional observatories use interferometry to achieve larger resolutions that can be achieved with a single dish, and because many amateurs can only access smaller sized equipment, the idea of using similar techniques to achieve larger effective apertures is very enticing.
Radio astronomy forums and groups have members who successfully carry out interferometry experiments using dishes in the 3m range and often complex equipment. My aim was to build and successfully observe interferometry fringes on the Sun using cheap off the shelf components, purchased from every day consumer websites, and dishes < 1m in size, also easily sourced from similar places. As I am hoping that any success that I have with this project can be expanded to hydrogen in the Milky Way, I opted to use 1420MHz. I will describe the ups and downs and then go on to discuss my results, whether I had a degree of success, and lessons I learnt from the experience, and to what extent I think that this can be achieved by other amateurs with limited knowledge and funds.

Mapping the Milky Way and Demonstrating Dark Matter in Your Own Backyard. Andrew Thornett. International Astronomy Show. September 2024.

Abstract:

Would you like to replicate the science behind much of the astronomy headlines? This talk will tell you how to do this for around £200 using readily-available off-the-shelf components. No electronics or amateur radio experience required!

Mapping the Milky Way at 1420 MHz (Hydrogen). Andrew Thornett. Radio Society of Great Britain Convention, October 2024

Abstract:

This talk explored the science and engineering options open to the amateur radio community who wish to extend their operations to observe the Milky Way and calculate its mass, using readily available equipment and minimal knowledge from their own shack.