HartRAO Home >
news >
First Pulsar Observations with the NCCS 2001/10/12
First Pulsar Observations with the NCCS 2001/10/12
The first test observations of pulsars using HartRAO's Linux-based New
Control Computer System (NCCS) for the 26m telescope were made successfully on 2001 10 12 by
Sarah Buchner. The Vela pulsar
(PSR 0833-45) and PSR 1641-45 were both observed succesfully. Plots of the
average pulse profiles are shown below.
While this represents an engineering / test capability and not yet an
operational capability, it is an important step forward in transferring
single-dish observing from the HP1000 to the NCCS.
The timer used for the tests was the single channel Mark I pulsar timer, in
use for many years at HartRAO. A new pulsar timer is being designed and
built in the Department of physics and Electronics at Rhodes University by
MSc student Adrian Tiplady, supervised by Prof. Justin Jonas, as a collaborative project
with HartRAO. This will have much improved capability, with greater
bandwidth and multiple channels.