Radio Astronomy

The Radio Astronomy Observing Program (RAOP) is designed to introduce and encourage the building of, and observing with, radio telescopes or other detectors.  

RAOP includes five types of observing that can be done with various radio equipment: 

• Space Weather -- Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance  (SID)

• the Sun  (Itty-Bitty Telescope)

• Planets  (Radio Jove)

• Meteors, and 

• Galactic/Extragalactic objects.  

Bronze Level

The Bronze Level is intended to introduce Radio Astronomy with a minimum of cost and equipment.  Each applicant must build or assemble one Radio receiver or antenna device and observe one of the radio sources listed above.  The device may be built by an individual or by a small group of no more than three people, however all individuals must make their own observations.  You must submit all required documentation specified above for any observation to be considered. 

You do not need to be a member of the Astronomical League to earn a Radio Astronomy Observing Program Bronze certificate.

Completion will earn the Bronze certificate which will be emailed to you for printing.

Silver Level

The Silver Level is intended to take the radio astronomer to a higher level of experience in the Radio Spectrum.  In addition to the Bronze level requirements, the applicant must observe a second type of radio source in the radio spectrum using a different instrument than used previously.   You may do this in combination with the Bronze level by submitting observing reports for the two different types of radio sources using the two different types of instruments, one of which, you must have personally built or assembled.

Completion of two sets of different observations outlined in the five categories above, using at least two different instruments will earn the Silver certificate and pin.  These will be sent to you through the mail.

Gold Level

The Gold Level is intended to take the Radio Astronomer to the advanced level of experience that has included a broad variety of observing and a more sophisticated level of observing. To obtain this level, the applicant must have met the requirements of the Bronze and Silver levels and:

1. Have observed four of the five categories of Radio Sources; Space weather, the Sun, Meteors, Planetary, and Galactic/Extragalactic. One of which must be Observing Galactic/Extragalactic Radio Sources.

2. Have observed with four different instruments; two of which, you have personally built or assembled.

3. Have observed Galactic/Extragalactic radio sources as outlined in the above Observing Galactic Radio Sources section. These observations may be done using equipment that you may or may not have built but you must be actively engaged in the operation and collection processes.  Completion of the Observing Galactic/Extragalactic Radio Source category is mandatory for the Gold level.

Take the following links to see my logs for the four activities I did to complete the Radio Astronomy Observing Program:

Bronze Level              Radio Meteors

Silver Level               Space Weather (SID)

Gold Level                 Itty-Bitty Telescope
                                Galactic/Extragalactic Radio Sources

Two years after I completed the program I became the National Coordinator.