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What are the Different Parts of a Radio Telescope?

-- Abha and Deepa | January 16, 2022

Question:

We are trying to understand what the different parts of a radio telescope are, and we are confused as to what the antenna is. Is it just the part we have seen on some websites described as the feedhorn? Or is the dish and the feedhorn? And are radio telescopes called antennas, too?

-- Abha and Deepa

Answer:

You can find a very nice description of the different parts of a radio telescope in NRAO’s radio astronomy technology information. The main parts of a radio telescope antenna that collect the signal are the reflecting surface of the antenna and the feed horn that directs the signal into the receiver. The term “antenna” and “radio telescope” are interchangeable, and are often used to generically refer to the entire radio telescope system.

-- Jeff Mangum

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