Design, Environmental and Sustainability Constraints of new African Observatories: The example of the Mozambique Radio Astronomy Observatory

Conference proceedings article

Authors / Editors

Ribeiro, Valério

Research Areas

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Publication Details

Author list: Barbosa D, Bergano M, Ribeiro VARM, Loots A, Thondikulam VL, Gaylard M, van Ardenne A, Paulo C, Colafrancesco S, Amador JC, Maia R, Melo R

Place: NEW YORK

Publication year: 2013

Journal: 2017 IEEE AFRICON (2153-0025)

Journal acronym: AFRICON

Number of pages: 5

eISBN: 978-1-4673-5940-5

ISSN: 2153-0025

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

The Mozambique Radio Astronomy Observatory (MRAO) will be a first milestone towards development of radioastronomy in Mozambique. Development of MRAO will constitute a preparation step towards participation in the upcoming Africa VLBI Network and the Square Kilometer Array project. The MRAO first antenna is planned to serve as a capacitation and training facility and will be installed after the conversion of a 7-meter telecom dish in South Africa. Therefore, this first radiotelescope design has to comply with local spectral and environmental constraints. Furthermore, power availability and long term sustainability with potential inclusion of solar power and control of Radio Frequency Interference are analyzed. Here we outline some of the design, environmental and power sustainability constraints.

Keywords

radioastronomy, Radio Frequency Interference, solar power, telescopes: antennas

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