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SPIDER 300A installed in University of Lincoln (UK)

SPIDER 300A installed in University of Lincoln (UK)

Spider radio telescope installations

PrimaLuceLab Team completed the installation of a new SPIDER 300A, the 3 meter diameter compact radio telescope for 1420 MHz radio astronomy, in University of Lincoln (UK)!

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK)
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK)

 

The installation location choose by the customer is the top of the roof of one of the university buildings where a high load capacity metallic base is present. Here, by adding a special metal plate, we initially fixed the large pier of the SPIDER 300A radio telescope.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): pier fixed on the metallic plate
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): pier fixed on the metallic plate

 

By using an appropriate lifting machine, the WP-100 mount head has been installed on top of the pier. A proper fixing system allow a perfect connection between the mount head and the pier.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): during the installation of WP-100 mount head
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): during the installation of WP-100 mount head

 

The provided counterweight system allows a better balance of the 3 meter antenna that will be installed later. Latest version of the WP-100 mount offer a new design with all the cables running inside of the mount head and they run through the center of the pier in order to avoid any cable problem.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): assembly of the 3 meter antenna
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): assembly of the 3 meter antenna

 

The 3 meter diameter antenna has been delivered to the customer and it is pre-assembled. This way PrimaLuceLab Installation Team is able to assemble it in a short time and connect the H-FEED optimised for 1420 MHz frequency in the antenna prime focus.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): fixing the 3 meter antenna on the radio telescope mount
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): fixing the 3 meter antenna on the radio telescope mount

 

Since the 3 meter antenna is lightweight, it can be easily lifted on top of the mount where it can be connected to the mount head thanks to a connection plate that has been properly designed for a secure connection.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): preparing all the connection cables to the control room
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): preparing all the connection cables to the control room

 

Next the PrimaLuceLab Installation Team prepared all the cables that connect the antenna outside to the control room where the receiver will be installed. Cables arrives to the upper part of the antenna, there there is the 1420 MHz optimised H-FEED, the LNA units and the NSGen noise generator.

 

SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): H142-One receiver and antenna control unit in the control room
SPIDER 300A 3 meter radio telescope installed in University of Lincoln (UK): H142-One receiver and antenna control unit in the control room

 

In the control room, near the radio telescope antenna, we installed the H142-One radio astronomy receiver together with the RCPU-100 antenna control unit and the Ultrasonic Window Sensor controller that automatically parks the radio telescope when the wind exceed the maximum operational wind speed (50 km/h).

The radio telescope at University of Lincoln is ready for the first light and the Installation Service will be followed by a training session performed by our operators with remote control from Italy!