New monitoring methodologies for astronomy
This European project's goal was to develop a set of measures that facilitate radio astronomical telescopes used despite interference. This interference is in the form of strong radio frequency interference (RFI) signals. In fact, radio astronomical telescopes that can utilise RFI signals would help the European astronomical community. When monitoring radio signals from deep space, the largest source of interference are from signals generated right here on earth. The challenge is to develop a monitoring system that can filter out or ignore earth bound signals without loosing monitoring sensitivity. It is for this reason that investigation sponsored by the EC into radio frequency interference suppression techniques began. The project developed facilities for monitoring RFI signals at several European radio astronomy observing locations. The goals of monitoring RFI signals were to yield information on RFI sources and build an RFI database. While, the project's monitoring methodology could lead to radio astronomical telescopes that can be utilised despite this interference. The database compiles initial information about radio wave activity, from broadband and narrowband sources. The database provides radio astronomers access to information such as, when RFI would be at a minimum and what antennae array systems would provide optimal performance. This would greatly facilitate astrological monitoring procedures including, Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), which is a global effort to monitor celestial sources with a "virtual" network of antennae.
