SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope has been chosen by Deggendorf Institute of Technology as instrument to introduce students to radio astronomy. Deggendorf Institute of Technology is a university in Bavaria (Germany) offering first level education in a modern environment equipped with the latest technology. After our first visits in which Filippo took an introductory lesson on radio astronomy to a class of students and verified the installation place, the university chose SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope.

In fact SPIDER 230C does not require a fixed location with a concrete base for be used (so they can use SPIDER 230C from the roof of the same building where they have radio astronomy lessons) but, using the same H142-One receiver and  RadioUniversePRO software as the larger radio telescopes, still offers high performance for educational use.

SPIDER 230C is controlled by a room on the roof of the building and from which the radio telescope is visible. Here the H142-One receiver was installed, connected to the control computer with the RadioUniversePRO software that controls the entire instrument. SPIDER 230C, unlike the larger models 300A and 500A, does not have a waterproof mount so it must be moved when not in use to protect it from rain or strong winds. But the compact structure and the not too high weight allow to perform this operation with 2-3 people in a few minutes.

After the installation of the SPIDER 230C radio telescope and the RadioUniversePRO control software in the university computer, we had a training day in which we talked about the basic concepts for using the radio telescope, the software and capturing data.

Despite the not good weather conditions (we had snow), thanks to a simple covering of the mount’s head we also captured radio waves from different objects such as Cassiopeia A and the plane of the Milky Way demonstrating that the compact radio telescope, thanks to technology developed by PrimaLuceLab, can be usedalso in difficult weather conditions.

Deggendorf Institute of Technology now has a compact and easy-to-use radio telescope that will enable them to develop radio astronomy courses for many students. And we are already planning to come back to visit them soon to follow developments and to support them in their studies!