Undergraduate Research

Haystack Observatory runs an NSF funded program for undergraduate research. This program has several elements, including the remote and local use of the 37-meter telescope, development of the SRT, performing and understanding radio interferometry with SRTs and supporting materials on the web site. Undergraduates and faculty at colleges and universities around the country use the Haystack facilities in incorporating radio astronomy into their curricula.

The Small Radio Telescope (SRT) has been developed by the MIT Haystack Observatory staff as a tool to introduce students to the basics of radio astronomy. This telescope is now available as a kit from CassiCorp. The Haystack program is currently testing an interferometer with SRTs.

The 37-m radio telescope is available for use by undergraduate students and faculty. The telescope has receivers available that span the 21-22 GHz band and the 36-49 GHz band. College faculty can request time to use the telescope in their classroom as a demonstration tool, for laboratory exercises or for student research projects.

Educational materials for college teachers and students as well as for high school teachers are also available - on the web site and by request.

Several papers and conference proceedings have resulted from the project, both by project staff and by undergraduate students. The links below will take you to the publications and posters (where applicable).

37-m publications

SRT and VSRT publications

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