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Radio Astronomy Practicals, Projects and Courses
Radio Astronomy Practicals, Projects and Courses
Undergraduate Astronomy Courses
Astronomy is taught as a three year undergraduate course at the University
of Cape Town (UCT). From 2009 UCT is
offering an undergraduate course in astro-technology. Astronomy can studied
by distance learning through UNISA.
Many astronomers start by majoring in physics as part of a BSc degree,
specialising in astronomy at post-graduate level. For example, the
undergraduate physics with electronics course run by Rhodes University has
produced many radio astronomers.
Radio Astronomy Practicals
Practicals are carried out at Hartebeesthoek by physics students at third
and fourth year level from a number of South African universities. The
practicals are tailored to the requirements of the group. The content
includes hands-on work with microwave equipment, theory of radio astronomy
and observations with the radio telescope. Practicals can range from one
day to one week in duration. Universities that have participated include
Venda, UNISA, NorthWest University, Rhodes, University of Johannesburg,
Wits and the NASSP consortium, currently hosted by UCT.
Radio Astronomy Projects for Honours, Masters and PhD Students
Projects in radio astronomy are available for students from undergraduate
level up to PhD level. Usually a staff member of HartRAO acts as supervisor
or a co-supervisor. A range of topics are available for projects in radio
astronomy.
Further details of the types of research being done at HartRAO
may be found in the pages on
spectroscopy, continuum radiometry, pulsar timing, VLBI and space geodesy . Note that VLBI
projects would only be available at Masters or Doctoral level as they
require the use of international arrays of radio telescopes.
HartRAO normally provides financial support for MSc and PhD students who will
be based at the Observatory.
Postgraduate Courses in Radio Astronomy
An Honours, Masters and PhD programme in Astrophysics and Space Science is
being run by a consortium of South African Universities and National
Research Facilities. This is currently hosted at the University of Cape
Town. For more information see the National Astronomy and Space Science
Programme. HartRAO contributes to the funding for this programme, which
includes courses on radio astronomy and related fields, and practical work
at HartRAO.
In addition, courses or research opportunities in radio astronomy are
offered at Honours level and beyond at:
- Physics
Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province.
- Unit
for Space Physics, NorthWest University at
Potchefstroom, North West Province.
- Astronomy Department,
University of Cape Town, Western Cape Province.
- Physics Department, University of
the Western Cape, Cape Town, Western Cape Province.
-
Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Astronomy at
the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Arrangements have been made with some universities that do not offer
astronomy courses to credit courses done through UNISA. The student will be
awarded the appropriate credits from his or her home institute.
Karoo Array Telescope Bursaries
The Karoo Array Telescope (KAT) team are offering
bursaries in a range of scientific and engineering disciplines. This poster provides information about KAT and the
forthcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and career opportunities
in radio astronomical and allied engineering disciplines.
Links
Information
about getting to HartRAO
Accommodation at
HartRAO
Gallery
Radio
Astronomy Practical for NASSP and RU students, 2006
Radio
Astronomy practical for NASSP, RU and UCT students, 2005
RAU students at
HartRAO, 2004
North-West
University students at HartRAO, 2004
First NASSP
student practical, 2003
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Students from the University of the Free State examine the telescope,
2002 September
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RAU students use a hot/cold load cooled with liquid nitrogen to measure
the temperature
of a microwave amplifier as Dr. Chris Engelbrecht watches, 2002 April
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Potchefstroom University physics students with
the partially resurfaced telescope, 2002 Jan.
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Students from Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg
during their Physics practical, 2002 April
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Physics students from Rhodes University
in Grahamstown, with Prof. Jonas (r)
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Physics students from Vista University in
Soweto climbing the telescope
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For more information e-mail
info@hartrao.ac.za