Advanced Functions: Performances Optimization - Primaluce SPIDER230 Installation And User Manual

P r i m a L u c e L a b i S r l S p i d e r 2 3 0 u s e r m a n u a l

Advanced functions: performances optimization

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Record radio waves coming from space with a non-professional instrument is a complicated operation, in fact,
apart from the Sun and Moon that are two intense radio sources, all other objects (such as Cassiopeia A and Taurus
A) are very weak and have an emission just higher than the background noise of the Spider230 radio telescope. For
this reason, optimization and proper use of the entire system receiver (antenna and receiver) is essential.
We report here a series of observations and recommendations that help improve the performance of Spider230:
1) Antenna optimization: on page 38 of this manual we described how to perform a preliminary adjustment of the
antenna (focus point and feedhorn axis). Now let's see how to adjust the system even better. For a greater antenna
efficiency, it is necessary that the feedhorn axis is corresponding to the one of the parabolic antenna. In order to
fine-tune this, we use the technique of recording radio images of the Sun.
Having off the Spider230, install the solar attenuator on the receiver. Then turn on the receiver and the mount:
connect your control computer, start the RadioUniverse software and connect to the radio telescope. Point to the
Sun and record a radio image of the Sun itself, with a good resolution (for example, you can shoot 10 x 10 pixels
with a 0.1 degrees resolution). Look at the picture on the Radio-Map area of RadioUniverse: move the mouse ar-
row on the point where the radio-map maximum is, click with the right mouse button and select "Sync Antenna".
The radio telescope will point to the real center of the Sun (which might be slightly shifted with respect to the
theoretical position reported by RadioUniverse).
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