New nanotechnology centre aims to boost innovation

Conversion of a New Zealand 30-Metre Telecommunications Antenna into a Radio Telescope

“…A 32-m antenna at Yamaguchi in Japan (Fujisawa et al 2002) was taken over by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) in 2001 for use by NAOJ and Yamaguchi University and similar projects at Earth Station sites at Goonhilly in the UK (Heywood et al 2011) and Elfordstown near Cork in the Republic of Ireland (Gabuzda, Golden, & ARTI Consortium 2005) are also being considered, which would enhance the resolution and uv -coverage of both the Multi-Element Radio-Link Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN) and the European Very Long Baseline Interferometer (VLBI) Network (EVN). With the location of a part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in Africa, there is now considerable interest in radio astronomy there, and recent conversions of former, satellite-communications antennas in Africa (Nordling 2012; Perks 2012; Gaylard et al 2012) to produce an African VLBI network have been reported. Some of these African antennas, such as at Kuntunse in Ghana, are very similar to the Warkworth 30-m in design and structure.…”