ASTRON – Dwingeloo Radio Telescope

Auteur(s): Tammo Jan Dijkema, Thomas Telkamp

On Wednesday, March 13, the Dwingeloo Telescope detected a flash from the Fast Radio Burst (FRB) FRB 20240114A. This is the first time an FRB has been measured with the Dwingeloo Telescope. This detection has been independently confirmed by the radio telescopes in Onsala (Sweden) and Stockert (Germany).

Fast Radio Bursts are bright radio flashes from space. The phenomenon was discovered in 2007. From the signal, we can determine that they come from far beyond our Milky Way. The origin of these bright radio flashes is still unknown. Some FRBs have only been detected once, while others repeat. FRB 20240114A is one of these repeating FRBs and is currently relatively active. It was first detected on January 14, 2024, by the CHIME radio telescope and has since been seen by many other radio telescopes.

For the volunteers of CAMRAS, the detection is a breakthrough: it is the first time that a flash from an FRB has been observed with the Dwingeloo Telescope, which was built in 1956. The activity of the source is relatively rare: in the twenty observation days since January, the first flash has now been found after nearly a hundred hours of observation and over five terabytes of data. The precise time of detection is 2024-03-13 11:02:06.397 UTC.

What makes the detection with the Dwingeloo Telescope even more special is that the receiver, built by radio amateurs, were not specifically optimized for receiving broadband signals like those from FRBs. This also means that the receivers can still be improved to better receive the signals in the future.

The professional radio astronomers at ASTRON are actively researching fast radio bursts and have detected many with the telescopes in Westerbork. The first detection with the Dwingeloo Telescope shows that this telescope can still be used for current research. CAMRAS also shares the results with professional astronomers. After the first detection, CAMRAS joined the existing EuroFlash project, which monitors FRBs with ‘small’ European dishes. On 2 April 2024, this collaboration published an Astronomer’s Telegram with over 100 FRB detections. The first Dwingeloo detection was included in the accompanying image. In the context of the EuroFlash project also telescopes in Westerbork, Stockert (Duitsland) en Onsala (Zweden) are observing.

In the data from the Dwingeloo Telescope, in addition to the first detected flash, three more flashes have been found on 2024-03-12 10:43:24.188 UTC, 2024-03-13 09:18:21.738 UTC, and 2024-03-22 13:39:27.687.

Thanks to all CAMRAS volunteers who made this detection possible, especially the observers. So far, these have been Hans van der Meer, Roel Ovinge, Harm Munk, Simon Bijlsma, Marc Wolf, Tjipke de Beer, Gerard Boons, Paul Boven, and Michael Sanders.

Author(s): CAMRAS-PR

Photo(s): CAMRAS Gemma Bassa, Harm Jan Stiepel and Leiden Observatory Archives. Video: Drenthe province

Wednesday 18 September 2019, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a regional visit to Southwest Drenthe (in Dutch). The program included Dwingelderveld National Park and ASTRON.

The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope is located on the edge of the Dwingelderveld and close to the ASTRON buildings. On the way from Dwingelderveld to ASTRON, the Royal Couple walked along the radio telescope. Outside of the radio telescope, CAMRAS volunteer and ASTRON employee Tammo Jan Dijkema gave the Royal Couple a brief explanation with demonstration of hydrogen in the spiral arms of the Milky Way. Tammo Jan was accompanied by Cor Veldman, one of the longest cooperating CAMRAS volunteers. In order to perform the demonstration flawlessly, three telescope operators were present in the telescope: CAMRAS volunteers Cees Bassa (also ASTRON employee), Harm Munk (CAMRAS vice-chairman) and Sigrid Witteveen.

: A check with Tammo Jan Dijkema. (Photo HJS)

: The operators Sigrid Witteveen, Harm Munk, Sigrid Bassa and Tammo Jan Dijkema check the demo and readability of the monitor tied at the telescope. (Photo HJS)

: Just adjusting. (Photo HJS)

: Mayor Jager and the Royal Couple arrive at the Dwingelderveld. (Photo HJS)

: Tammo Jan Dijkema explains the demo. (Photo HJS)

: Later, the Westerveld police came back to see how the radio telescope works. (Photo GB)

In 1956, King Willem-Alexander’s grandmother, at that time Queen Juliana, opened the radio telescope. Therefor we wanted to show the Royal Couple that the radio telescope is still working, but now with volunteers.

: Commissioning of the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope by Queen Juliana on April 17, 1956. (Photo LOA)

: Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander, September 18, 2019. (Photo HJS)

You can read more about the visit to ASTRON on the ASTRON website.

During the regional visit, attention was given to initiatives by residents and entrepreneurs to preserve the quality of life in their city or village. A connecting approach is central to these initiatives. The Royal Couple visited the municipalities of Hoogeveen, Westerveld, De Wolden and Meppel.

Posts

Dwingeloo Telescope detects fast radio burst

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima regional visit

radiotelescoop

Tag Archive for: ASTRON

Posts