The award-winning Exeter Radio Telescope at Caradon (XRT-C) project is an official national project of UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS), based and run primarily by students at the University of Exeter. They are building a 4.5m radio telescope for use as an education and research tool for students across the country. This is a student led project from the very beginning with students working together to plan, procure, construct and operate the final project. Once completed, our first large-scale project involves using the telescope to observe neutral hydrogen in the Milky Way with an aim to weigh our galaxy (1).
Project Progress
After years of work, they have achieved first light on their telescope. They have taken observations with it and are just working on sorting out the last technical tweaks. The new stage involves commissioning and calibrating our instruments. When is phase is complete, they will start observations. It’s an exciting time for the project, and hopefuly you’ll follow along.
Caradon Observatory is an amateur run facility on the edge of Bodmin Moor, under dark Cornish skies (SQM readings in the range of 21.2-21.7 are routinely obtained). We have been providing technical support for Cornwall Council’s bid to have Bodmin Moor recognised as an International Dark Sky Site, to help preserve the beauty of the night sky for current and future generations. The observatory has also been used as a venue for a number of presentations and open days to various student and local groups.
The observatory is also home to the XTR-C 4.5m radio telescope, an educational and outreach tool run primarily by students at the University of Exeter (2) .
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NEW SCIENTIFIC INNOVATIONS 