Sharjah Radio Telescope

40-m Radio Interferometer

Overview

The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) aims to construct an interferometer designed to study the neutral Hydrogen line emission. The system is in United Arab Emirates, Sharjah. The exact geographical latitude and longitude coordinates of the radio telescope are 25° 17' 05.21" and 55° 27' 50.28", respectively.

The Interferometer project was first initiated in 2018 and completed on 2020 with the help of the Italian company PrimaLuceLab. The system was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi on 14th of Jan, 2020.

Image
The Sharjah 40m-Radio Interferometer at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) is an array of three SPIDER 500A radio telescopes (fully steerable 5-m parabolic reflectors). All three telescopes are fixed in the Academy with baselines of 30, 40 and 50 meters to simulate the angular resolution of a 40-m radio telescope, 0.36 degrees, and a collecting area equal to an antenna of 8.7 m in diameter. With such an angular resolution we can observe almost anything in the universe. These telescopes operate simultaneously at a central frequency of 1420 MHz (50 MHz bandwidth) designed to perform various radio observations. This system is unique in the MENA region and the first of its kind in the world. The system will contribute to the understanding of the distribution of the large hydrogen structures found in galaxies clusters, to grasp a better understanding of the universe expansion.

Our Objectives

Radio telescopes are characterized by their access to locations that other waves cannot reach in order to detect radio sources both inside and outside our galaxy.

Radio Bands

Study radio astronomy in the L-band.

Radio Interferometer

Construct a radio interferometer to simulate the resolution of a 40-m diameter single-dish antenna, operating at 1420 MHz.

Mapping

Map the distribution of neutral Hydrogen clouds within our Milky Way galaxy.

Radio Sources

Study galactic and extragalactic radio sources such as pulsars and radio galaxies.

Future

Train and prepare the next generation of radio astronomers to operate single radio dishes and interferometers.

Research

Contribute to understanding the workings of the universe by publishing our research in top journals of Astronomy.

Our System

Our Sharjah radio telescope is a complete, ready-to-use system that consists of a 5-m parabolic antenna, a computerized weatherproof alt-azi mount, a high load capacity pier, a radiometer and spectrometer receiver operating at 1420 MHz, all controlled by RadioUniversePRO software.

Antenna

Mount

Sources

Software

Antenna
The WEB500-5 parabolic antenna is made of a fine aluminum mesh and provides a large collection area with a low overall weight. The dish is supported to maintain rigidity and fixed on top of the mount.

The H-FEED feedhorn, positioned at the point of focus of the antenna, is designed to allow the reception of dual polarization with support for two professional Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) at 1420 MHz frequency.
Mount
Radio astronomy is weather independent, which allows observations during day or night, clear or cloudy sky. The new WP-400 computerized weatherproof mount enables the astronomer to install the telescope outside without a dome. It also includes a security system that “parks” the telescope when winds exceed 50 Km/h to prevent any damage to the telescope..
Sources
The H142-One receiver is a superheterodyne type radiometer/spectrometer that operates at 1420 MHz, with a 50 MHz bandwidth and 14-bit analog to digital converter. The receiver contains high gain and low electronic noise components which enables the telescope to record several radio sources in the Universe, with a theoretical flow of at least 5 Jy.
Software
The telescope is equipped with the RadioUniversePRO software that displays all the parameters of the telescope, operates and records the necessary data. The software contains a catalog for different types of sources that you can observe. It filters out any radio interference, creates radio maps, synchronizes the telescope with the source and visualizes and records the variation of the radio signal flux over time.

Reach The Edge
Of The Universe

Many astronomical objects are not only observable in visible light but also emit radiation at radio wavelengths. Besides observing energetic objects such as pulsars and quasars, radio telescopes are able to "image" most astronomical objects such as galaxies, nebulae, black hols, and even radio emissions from planets.

publications

Project Phases

Phase 1

Pre-Installation

Area was selected to allow easy access, easy remote control of the telescope, and minimum radio interference at 1420 MHz.

Phase 2

Installation of the first 5-m Radio Dish

The first-ever SPIDER 500A in the world was successfully set up within 3 days on the 25th of April 2019. The telescope saw the first light, observing Orion A, on 14th of May 2019.

Phase 3

40-m Radio Interferometer

The second and third SPIDER 500A telescopes are scheduled to arrive and installed at the end of October. The three telescopes together will operate at an angular resolution of 3 degrees with that of a 40-m radio telescope.

Image

Ongoing Projects

Giant Radio Sources Project Description

The GRS project presents 1.4 GHz observations of well-known Giant Radio Galaxies. The main objective of these observations is to understand the correlation between radio core prominence and total radio luminosity of the GRS, which in turn will help build a better model to understand their evolution.

Mapping the Plane of the Milky Way Project Description

Creating a panorama of the milky way using a technique where we map small parts of the plane to construct a bigger one.

Lunar Project Description

Observe the Hydrogen Line radiation reflected off the moon’s surface from the sun as a radiation source and compare the subsequent data with the generalized solar radiation reflection off the lunar surface percentage range (3% to 12% of received sun radiation) with respect to the phase of the moon during that observation.

THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

The Radio Sun

A unique radio image of the Sun was mapped using one of the 5-m radio telescopes at Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST). The map was created on January 5th, 2020, with an angular resolution of 3 degrees. The map is taken with false colors with the white area indicates the maximum radio flux.
THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

Orion A Nebula

Radio image of Orion Nebula (M42) using the 5-m Radio Telescope at Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST). The image was captured by the radio telescope on Tuesday, May 14th, 2019 at 1.4 GHz, with a resolution of about 3 degrees. The map is taken with false colors, the white area indicates the maximum radio emission.
THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

Sharjah Radio Telescope UV-Plane

Unlike single radio telescopes, radio interferometers cannot produce an image of a source in the sky directly. It depends on the geometry of the interferometer and its orientation relative to earth rotation access.
The images above are simulations performed using the APSYNSIM simulator. The first image shows the spatial distribution of Sharjah 40m radio interferometer elements. The second image shows the amplitude of the Fourier transform of the observed source (in this case a simulated radio galaxy model). The image also shows the tracks of the projected baselines in the (U-V) plane, sampled by the interferometer.
THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

Sagittarius A

The 5-m radio telescope at the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) mapped the center of the milky way (Sgr A) which is “visible” to us only with radio telescopes. The observation was carried out on Oct. 20th, 2020 at a wavelength of 21cm. The first image is the map created using the 5m SPIDER 500A radio telescope with angular resolution of 3 degrees. The 11x11 radio image shows (Sgr A) with filaments in white. The second image is an optical image of the galactic center hidden behind clouds of gas.
THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

Cassiopeia A

Cassiopeia A, also known as CasA or 3C460, is a young supernova remnant or SNR in the constellation of Cassiopeia in the Milky Way galaxy. The size of CasA is 5.0x5.0 arcmin. Supernova remnants, as their name indicates, are the leftovers of a star when it runs out of fuel for nuclear power. The core of the star collapses to form a massive dense object called a neutron star, and it ejects its material at an extremely large speed leaving behind an empty shell. The star that created CasA is said to be about 25 times as massive as the sun. A radio map of the same object obtained at 1.4 GHz with the Sharjah 5m radio telescope at SAASST on 9th of February 2021.
THE AMAZING SLIDESHOW ADDON!

The Crab Nebula: Taurus A

Taurus A, famously known as the Crab Nebula (first image), or Messier 001, is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Taurus. The SNR was discovered in 1731 by John Bevis. The object was then observed by Charles Messier in 1758 and added to the Messier catalogue. The supernova explosion in 1054 was so bright it was visible in the daytime for 23 days which was documented by sky watchers and astronomers. The Crab nebula contains two dim stars at its center, one of which is a pulsating neutron star. The nebula has been widely observed as a strong source of X-ray and gamma ray emissions. Taurus A was observed with the Sharjah 5m radio telescope at 1.4GHz on the 24th of March 2021. The bright 7x5 arcmin nebula is clearly visible as the white region in the radio map.

Our Valuable Team

We are a team that specializes in skills that complement each other, and each of us has a common goal to achieve one goal
Dr. Ilias Fernini
Dr. Ilias FerniniGD for Research Laboratories
Anas Adwan
Anas AdwanMaintenance Engineer
Issam Jami
Issam JamiIT Advisor

Gallery

Contact Us .. !

captcha
Reload