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Are the Energy Fluxes Measured at the Focus of a Radio Telescope Potentially Harmful?

-- Taylor | July 28, 2020

Question:

Hi, I was just wondering if the energy at the focal point of a large radio telescope such as the FAST telescope is concentrated enough to be dangerous in any way. Thanks!

-- Taylor

Answer:

Not when observing an astronomical source. The objects measured by radio telescopes have energy densities that are of the order of 10^(-26) Watts/m^2/Hz, which are extremely small.

-- Jeff Mangum

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