New Callisto installed in South Africa

A new spectrometer has been set into operation at SANSA (South African National Space Agency) in Hermanus 7200, South Africa.

Top: LPDA pointing to the meridian transit of the sun in South Africa
Bottom: Callisto and PC in the observatory.

Now, we are waiting for the 1st light. Unfortunately the sun is very quiet at the moment....

New Callisto spectrometer in Sri Lanka installed

The CALLISTO Solar Radio Observatory is established in the Arthur C Clarke Institute (ACCIMT), Colombo, Sri Lanka. The location of the CALLISTO system is 6^o 47^’ 37^’’ N, 79^o 53^’ 53^’’ E at an altitude of 40 m and the time zone is +5.30 from UT. The log-periodic antenna was completely designed by the ACCIMT and constructed locally. Design constant (t) 0.822 and the relative spacing (s) 0.149 give 7 dBi theoretical gain for the log – periodic antenna and it covers the frequency range of 45 – 600 MHz with 18 dipoles. The theoretical impedance of the antenna 58.3 Ω is well agreed with the impedance measured in the entire frequency range. The total height of the antenna is 5.38 m and the longest dipole is 3.33 m. The linear polarized antenna is pointing to zenith and the dipoles directed to north-south direction.

The pre-amplifier is made by ACCIMT using MAR-8ASM Monolithic surface mount amplifier which gives 31.5 dB gain at 100 MHz.    

The members of astronomy division. From left; Saraj Gunasekara, Janaka  Adassuriya, Kamal Perera, Indika Medagangoda.

1st ligth, a type III burst. X-axis is local time

Rather crowded spectrum, nevertheless solar observations are still possible.

Beam power pattern / raster fly map with Callisto

PSF (point spread function) or beampattern (raster fly map) of the sun measured with a 5m dish and Callisto spectrometer.
Angular range = +/-12° in azimuth and in elevation while tracking the sun
Angular stepsize in elevation = 0.25°
Scanning speed 1200 rpm (0.4°/s)
Startime = 06:35:18UT
Stoptime = 08:44:00 UT

Contour plot of the same data set. Peak amplitude produced by the sun in left circular polarization is about 4 dB.

New Callisto at Hvezdaren Roztoky in Slovakia

On April 30th 2013 a new Callisto spectrometer has been installed and configured at the observatory Roztoky in eastern Slovakia. The antenna is a commercial LPDA CLP-5130 followed by a low noise Mini Circuits pre-amplifier.

The author with a glass of red wine after succesful installation and configuration of the instrument in a temporary shed.

 2nd light, a type IV solar radio burst connected to a M-flare.

Interference situation compared with other radio sources.

M6.5 x-ray flare produced nice type II radio burst

5330       0655   0716      0729  G15  5   XRA  1-8A      M6.5    7.4E-02   1719
5330       0656   0710      0906  SVI  3   FLA  N09E12    3B      UMB       1719
5330 +     0656   0658      0811  LEA  G   RBR  1415      3000              1719
5330       0657   ////      0846  LEA  C   RSP  025-180   VI/1              1719
5330       0657   0658      0859  LEA  G   RBR  245       2700              1719
5330 +     0657   0707      0845  LEA  G   RBR  410       340               1719
5330       0658   0707      0830  LEA  G   RBR  610       830               1719
5330 +     0658   0702      0718  LEA  G   RBR  2695      470               1719
5330 +     0658   0710      0716  LEA  G   RBR  4995      310               1719
5330 +     0702   ////      1712  SVI  C   RSP  025-180   IV/3              1719
5330 +     0702   ////      0709  CUL  C   RSP  045-160   II/3              1719
5330 +     0702   0710      0723  LEA  G   RBR  8800      210               1719
5330 +     0703   ////      0720  CUL  C   RSP  025-090   III/3             1719
5330 +     0710   0710      0710  LEA  G   RBR  15400     100               1719 

Nice type II burst observed at BIR observatory of TCD in Ireland

with low cost spectrometer Callisto.

Antenne is a biconical from Schwarzbeck/Germany.

1st light Callisto in Roswell New Mexico

Another Callisto spectrometer (NA014) has been set into operation in Roswell New Mexico, connected to a log-per antenna CLP-5130. 1st ligth burst was observed on March 11th 2013. Thanks and congratulations to Stan Nelson. Welcome on board of the e-Callisto network! This observatory very much increases the American/Pacific coverage. Now we are very close to 24h/365d observation scheme.

With this new node we have full coverage 24h/365d. This after 11 years of activity in connection with IHY2007 and ISWI.

1st light burst Callisto at University of Alcalá, Spain

1st light observed with Callisto at University of Alcalá, Spain on February 17th, 2013. Congratulations and welcome on board of the e-Callisto network!