Component, Hardware, and Software Sources
compiled by Bob Lash (BAMBI.net)
Rev. 6/24/03 Updated 08/2013
Components:
Jeff Lichtman
jeff@radioastronomysupplies.com.
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/ras.html
Steve Kostro, Box 341A, RD1, Frenchtown,
NJ 08825 (908) 834-1304 also offers a catalog of hard to get parts for microwave builders. Steve Kostro's company Down East Microwave's website is http://www.downeastmicrowave.com/
Jim Sky, PMB 242 P. O. Box 7063, Ocean View Hawaii 96737 has a new book (The Radio Astronomy Teachers Notebook, 1991) compiling a wealth of recent information on RA and RA projects. Jim says his articles are aimed at teachers, but I am sure the information would be helpful to a newcomer. He also has list of suggested books on radio astronomy. http://www.radiosky.com/Amznbooks.html
Jim also has some computer simulation software including Radio-Sky Planetarium and Radio-Jupiter programs. He also sells a data collection program which will work with many A-to-D converters.
Jim Sky operates the RadioSky Publishing web site.
Publications and General
Information for Radio Astronomy
The ARRL Handbook for the Radio Amateur published by The American Radio Relay League 225 Main St., Newington, Conn. 06111 (203) 666-1541 Ask for a listing of publications, they have many how-to books that are a must if you plan to build RA equipment, but lack
the technical background.
See:
Jeff Lichtman jeff@radioastronomysupplies.com".
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/ras.html
Radio Astronomy for the Amateur by Heiserman.
Reported out of print. May be dated information. ISBN 0-8306-5714-2.
TAB Books Co., 13311 Monterey
Lane, Blue Ridge Summit Pa. 17214 (717) 794-2191.
The Handbook of Solar Monitoring (1975) by Carl Chernan. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830610057/ea6vqswebsite ISBN 0-8306-9984-8.
Radio Astronomy (1966) by J. Kraus. Listed as being available through
Mc-Graw Hill and Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895.
Antennas (1988) by J. Kraus. Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895 (College level)
Radio Astronomy and How To Build Your Own Telescope (1963) by John Heywood, ARC Books. Out of date and out of print but check your library.
Total Eclipses of the Sun (1984) by J.B. Zirker, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0-442-29455-7.
Math Books That Can Be Applied To Radio Astronomy
DFT/FFT and Convolution Algorithms by C.S. Burrus and T.W. Parks. John Wiley-Interscience is the publisher. ISBN 0-471-81932-8.
Celestial Basic by Eric Burgess. Sybex Inc. 2344 Sixth Street, Berkley CA 94710. ISBN 0-89588-087-3.
SETI and General Reading Books
Our Cosmic Universe (1980) by J. Kraus. Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895 (High School level).
Big Ear (1976) by J. Kraus. Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895 (Interesting reading).
Cosmic Search (1/79 to 1/82) All 13 back issues reported available through Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895 (Interesting reading).
Return To A New World April 1990 issue of Astronomy magazine. Prospects for the Galileo mission to Jupiter.
Seeing the Unseen Sun January 1990 issue of Astronomy magazine. Prospects for the solar probe Ulysses.
Unveiling the Hidden Milky Way November 1988 issue of Astronomy magazine. Good explanation of how radio astronomers map the Milky Way.
Serendipitous Discoveries In Radio Astronomy Great collection of interesting papers. Available through NRAO Greenbank Observatory, P.O. Box 2, Greenbank, WVA 24944 (304) 456-2011.
At The Edge of The Universe (1983) - Universe Books, ISBN 0-87663-433-1.
The Milky Way (1976) Bart Bok and Priscilla Bok, Harvard University Press, ISBN 0-674-57501-6.
The Physics-Astronomy Frontier (1980) F.Hoyle and J. Narlikar, W.H. Freeman and Co. ISBN 0-7167-1160-5.
The Search (1977) Frank Stilley Cygnus Quasar Books P.O. Box 85, Powell, Ohio 43065 (614) 548-7895.
Construction Articles:
Plans and specifications, including PC board artwork for a simple to build DC amplifier circuit. The artwork has been designed to accommodate first time PC board constructors, and those new to electronic construction. The same board can be used for amplifying,
spanning and offsetting your detected DC detector signal. The board is set up to convert antenna position to a proportional DC voltage that can be read by any computer A/D unit. rainfo.net Contact Chuck Forster.
Computer Signal Recording Equipment:
If you like to program but do not want to build A/D hardware try Maxim's MAX 132 evaluation kit. Comes in kit form, 18 bit ADV with serial port communications. http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/1347 Call 888-629-4642 and order Max132 Kit.