Signals from the Solar System

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Makuser United States of America
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Signals from the Solar System

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Post by Makuser »


To get you started in low cost "solar system radio astronomy", I can offer these suggestions. You will need a "amateur radio" transceiver or a communications receiver to monitor Jupiter's signals for this one, at:
http://www.spaceacademy.net.au/spacelab ... jovrad.htm
If you already have an amateur radio antenna for 15 meters (21 Mhz.) you are good to go. However, this link provides plans for a simple homebrew 20 Mhz. folded dipole. Since this antenna is bidirectional, you will want to mount this antenna perpidicular to the ecliptic for the best signal reception from Jupiter
For those of you who feel reluctant to hand make a bifilar wound toroidal transformer for the folded dipole antenna for receiving Jupiter's noise signals, here is an alternative, at:
https://www.amazon.com/rca-vh54r-matchi ... 87C8728C46
You can remove the flat line connectors and just solder the transformer leads to each side of the center spacer/insulator. Then, use some GE Sealastic over the connections, and around the plastic seams of the transformer. The transformer comes with a coax "F" connector, so you can use a "weather boot" over the coax connection, and then install the correct connector on the other end of the coax at the receiver end of your equipment. This should make things a little easier.
Now for the solar signals. First is the Solar Dawn Chorus:
https://soundcloud.com/nasa/sets/solar- ... ond-sounds
You will need a VLF Converter that goes down to 10 kHZ. You will need a better antenna than just a long wire for this, although you may have seen this on military and civilian cruise ships:
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/electr ... -world.htm
I use a similar antenna, only in a "quad" loop, with similar switching circuitry and manual control. It too is bidirectional, so I keep it facing directionally east/west to hear the solar dawn chorus, space lift offs, and on occasion the spiffs, from the asteroid showers as they ionize in our atmosphere.
Here is is my VLF converter.

VLF Converter.JPG



Unfortunately, this unit has been discontinued by both Palomar and Hamtronics, However, you may find a used unit on eBay:
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Palomar-Enginee ... 2344214313
or build it yourself by Ernest from Holland, at:
http://www.pa3hcm.nl/?p=1232
I hope that this is value to you and the best of regards in your space reception.
Marshall
Sky-Watcher 90mm f/13.8 Maksutov-Cassegrain on motorized Multimount
Orion Astroview 120ST f/5 Refractor on EQ3 mount
Celestron Comet Catcher 140mm f/3.64 Schmidt-Newtonian on alt-az mount
Celestron Omni XLT150R f/5 Refractor on CG4 mount with dual axis drives.
Orion 180mm f/15 Maksutov-Cassegrain on CG5-GT Goto mount.
Orion XT12i 12" f/4.9 Dobsonian Intelliscope.
Kamakura 7x35 Binoculars and Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars. ZWO ASI 120MC camera.
>)))))*>
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bladekeeper
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Re: Signals from the Solar System

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Post by bladekeeper »


Good stuff! Thank you, Marshall! :)
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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GCoyote United States of America
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Re: Signals from the Solar System

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Post by GCoyote »


Wow! That's a little beyond my DIY capabilities :)
Might have to look around for some used gear though. Light pollution is killing here in the Maryland suburbs. Radio is an intriguing idea.
Any metaphor will tear if stretched over too much reality.
Gary C

Celestron Astro Master 130mm f5 Newtonian GEM
Meade 114-EQ-DH f7.9 Newtonian w/ manual GEM
Bushnell 90mm f13.9 Catadioptric
Gskyer 80mm f5 Alt/Az refractor
Jason 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron 7x50 Binoculars
Svbony 2.1x42 Binoculars
(And a bunch of stuff I'm still trying to fix or find parts for.)
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