Erciyes University Radio Observatory

The Erciyes University Astronomy and Space Science Observatory Applied Research Center (Turkish: Erciyes Üniversitesi Astronomi ve Uzay Bilimleri Gözlemevi Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi) (UZAYBİMER) is a radio astronomy observatory operated by the Astronomy and Space Sciences Department at Erciyes University's Faculty of Science. It is located within university's campus at Melikgazi, Kayseri in central Turkey.

Erciyes University Radio Observatory
OrganizationErciyes University 
LocationMelikgazi, Turkey
Telescopes
UZAYBİMER Radyo Teleskop12.8 m Radio telescope
T30Meade LX200
T40 MeadeMeade LX200

Observatory's first radio telescope was a parabolic antenna of 2 m (6.6 ft) diameter, which was donated by the Marmara Research Center (MAM) of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK). The radio telescope, then called MRT-2, was initially purchased from the Institute of Radio Astronomy in Kharkiv, Ukraine with the financial help of UNIDO in 1996. Built to operate in the radio frequency range of 85-115 GHz, it was intended for the acquisition of carbon monoxide data in the Milky Way. In 1997, the telescope became inoperable, and the Ukrainian technicians were unavailable for its reparature. After some unsuccessful attempts to fix the radio telescope at site, it was handed over in 2000 to Erciyes University, where its rehabilitation was carried out between 2001-2002.[1][2]

The next radio telescopes were two parabolic antennas of 5 m (16 ft) diameter (ERT-5), which were donated from the local branch office of Türk Telekom in 2000. They are part of a project to build an astronomical interferometer. The radio telescopes operate in the frequencies of 4.5, 11 and 20 GHz.[3] In addition, a 3 m (9.8 ft) diameter antenna is situated at the site as well.[1]

Further radio telescopes installed at the observatory are a 12.8 m (42 ft) antenna and a 22 m (72 ft) radome, both donated by NATO SATCOM.[1][4]

Currently, the observatory operates the 12.8 m (42 ft) single-dish Cassegrain focus radio telescope inside the radome, two optical reflecting telescopes of 30 cm (12 in) and 40 cm (16 in) diameter.[5]

References
  1. Dağtekin, Nazlı Derya (2005). "Radyo Astronomi ve Türkiye'de Radyo Astronomi Çalışmaları". Journal of Istanbul Kültür University (in Turkish). İstanbul Kültür Üniversitesi. 2: 35–40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  2. Dağtekin, Nazlı Derya. "Radyo Astronomi-Türkiye'de neler Yapılmakta?" (PDF) (in Turkish). TÜBİTAK Biltek. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  3. Yusifov, İsmail; İbrahim Küçük; et al. "Uydu Antenlerinden Radyo Teleskopa: ERT-5 Teleskopunun Teknik Özellikleri" (in Turkish). UAK2006 Yusifov. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  4. Yıldız, Umut A.; İbrahim Küçük; et al. (2012-08-27). "Ulusal Radyoteleskop Projesi" (in Turkish). Malatya: XVIII. Ulusal Astronomi ve Uzay Bilimleri Kongresi. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  5. "Astronomi ve UzayBilimleri Araştırma Laboratuarı" (in Turkish). Astronomi ve Uzay Bilimleri Lab. Retrieved 2013-02-21.

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