Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory

Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory
Organization Astro Space Center of Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI), Russian Academy of Sciences
Location Pushchino-on-Oka, Russia (near Moscow)
Coordinates 54°49′20″N 37°37′53″E / 54.82222°N 37.63139°ECoordinates: 54°49′20″N 37°37′53″E / 54.82222°N 37.63139°E
Established April 11, 1956
Closed stiil active
Website http://www.prao.ru/
Telescopes
RT 22 (1959) Four, separate, fully steerable, radio telescope with 22 meter mirrors
DKR 1000 (1964) A wide-band radio telescope instrument
BSA/LPI (1973) Large Phased Array

Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory is a Russian (former Soviet) radio astronomy observatory. It was developed by Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI), Russian Academy of Sciences within a span of twenty years. It was founded on April 11, 1956, and currently occupies 70 000 square meters.[1]

Radio astronomy in Russia

Historically, Russian radio astronomy (formerly Soviet) has had a permanent and stable connection with the P N Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The institute had both permanent stations and conducted expeditions to locations in the field in the Crimea region. These facilities, and expeditions were designed for research in radio astronomy beginning in the late 1940s.[1]

A decade later the center for radio astronomy research had gravitated to the southern Moscow region (about 75 miles south of Moscow), in Pushchino (informally called Pushchino-on-Oka). Here a new observatory, the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory was developed within twenty years as part of the LPI Astro Space Center. It has become one of the largest radio astronomy observatories in Russia and in the world (2001). It was founded in April, 11th, 1956 under the purview of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.[1]

History of equipment in use

The Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory has four notable radio telescopes (RT 22), each with mirrors at 22 meters. Constructed in 1959 these are fully steerable, and are designed to operate in millimeter and centimeter range of wavelength. Added to the equipage is the DKR 1000, a wide-band radio telescope instrument, on-line in 1964, operating in the meter wavelength range. The DKR 1000 has arms that are 40 by 1000 meters. In 1973, another telescope was added to this set. The nomenclature is Large Phased Array with the designation BSA/LPI, operating in the meter wavelength range. The DKR 1000 and BSA/LPI, are currently the largest radio telescopes in the world, which operate in the meter range.[2]

Research divisions

The Observatory employs 45 researchers along with 60 engineers and technicians to accomplish staff the several major departments and several labs of the observatory. These are combined with 80 other people who perform administrative duties, workshops, garage, and a staff of guards. The departments and labs are designed to focus on scientific and technical aspects of observatory sciences.[2]

The departments are as follows: Plasma astrophysics, Extragalactic radio astronomy, Pulsar physics, Space radio spectroscopy, and Pulsar astrometry. The laboratories are as follows: Radio astronomy equipment, Automation radio astronomy research, Computer engineering and information technology, and Radio telescopes of the meter wavelength range.[2]

Main areas of research

Outstanding achievements

Alfven waves energy flow at 10 solar radii,
establish the existence of a planet near pulsar PSR BO329+54,
calalogue the spectra of 336 pulsars, discovery of a radio pulsar 102 MHz while observing X-ray radio source Geminga,
another radio pulsar discovered as the source of SGR 1900+14
an interplanetary scintillating method accomplishes a successful survey of compact radio sources.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The observatory unique instrumentation system is briefly reviewed in a historical perspective. Key research areas and some major achievements are outlined, and the prospects of the observatory as (currently) part of the LPI Astro Space Center are examined."
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pushchino Scientific Centre, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia (2001). "Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory". PRAO/ASC/LPI/RAS. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  3. ↑ Shabanova, Tatiana V. (1995). "Evidence for a Planet around the Pulsar PSR B0329+54". The Astrophysical Journal 453: 779. Bibcode:1995ApJ...453..779S. doi:10.1086/176440.

External links

Pictures of the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory, along with some information.

General references