Agenda:
7:00 - 7:15 General Meeting & Announcements
7:15 - 7:30 Short topic presentation by a club member
7:30 - 7:45 Refreshment break
7:45 - Public Presentation
Speaker:
Dr. Francisco Reyes
Emeritus Associate Scientist
University of Florida Astronomy Department
Topic: Low Frequency Amateur Radio Astronomy
Abstract:
Using simple or sometimes available equipment it is possible put together a simple radio telescope and be able to observe the radio emission from a few celestial objects at low radio frequency. Some of the objects that can be detected and observed are the Sun, Jupiter’s decametric emission, the synchrotron emission from the Milky Way and some terrestrial emission and the effect by the terrestrial ionosphere. Dr. Reyes will give a description and characteristics of the types of antennas, receivers, spectrograph and the software that can be use to do the observations. Examples of observation of solar bursts, Jupiter’s emission, galactic emission and types of terrestrial emission will be presented.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Reyes earned his Ph.D. in Astronomy at the University of Florida in 1989, his M.Sc. in Astronomy at the University of Florida in 1981 and his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Chile in 1977. Dr. Reyes is the former Director of the UF Teaching Observatories (Campus Teaching Observatory and Rosemary Hill Observatory) and the UF Radio Observatory.
Research Interests:
Low frequency planetary radio astronomy, Jupiter decametric radio emission, micro structure of Jupiter’s S bursts, Jovian radio rotational period, location of Jovian decametric radio sources along with observation and studies of pulsar at low radio frequencies. Participated in the construction and testing of Mid IR instruments TReCS and Canaricam, observation of transiting extrasolar planet and astronomical education. His areas of expertise also include computer control and calibration of radio telescopes.
