- Provides a compact introduction to radio astronomy
- Explains how a radio telescope works in an easy-to-understand way
- Provides insight into the origins of astrophysical radio sources
Radio technology allows astronomical observations to be extended beyond light to other frequency ranges. This has led to the discovery of numerous cosmic radio sources, whose physical causes are explained, as is the functioning of a radio telescope.
Even with small radio telescopes, it is possible to observe the radiation of the Sun and other radio sources, as well as the 21 cm radiation from the Milky Way. Interferometry allows a much higher resolution to be achieved than with individual radio telescopes. This enables radio astronomy research to contribute to many current questions in astronomy, cosmology and physics.
Table of contents:
- Introduction: What is radio astronomy?
- What are electromagnetic waves?
- How does a radio telescope work?
- What can be observed with a radio telescope?
- Outlook
The author Thomas Lauterbach is a professor of physics at the Georg Simon Ohm University of Applied Sciences in Nuremberg and head of the radio astronomy section of the Nuremberg Astronomical Society.
