Radio Astronomy in GhanaRadio Astronomy in Ghana

Bernard Duah Asabere bd.asabere@gmail.com

Fundamental PhysicsFundamental Physics with SKA 2017 @Flic en Flac, Mauritius with SKA 2017 @Flic en Flac, MauritiusMay 2, 2017

AVN GHANA PROJECT

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OutlineOutline

● Background of Astronomy in GhanaBackground of Astronomy in Ghana

● Radio Astronomy Projects in Ghana Radio Astronomy Projects in Ghana *SKA, AVN, Outreach & Training**SKA, AVN, Outreach & Training*

● The 32m Antenna Conversion ProjectThe 32m Antenna Conversion Project

● Impact of the Ghana Radio TelescopeImpact of the Ghana Radio Telescope

● Capacity Building in Radio Astronomy drivesCapacity Building in Radio Astronomy drives

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Background of AstronomyBackground of Astronomy Ghana Space Science and

Technology Institute (GSSTI) The interest matured in 2006

when called to join SA in the bid

to hosting the SKA project GSSTI was established by the state

(MESTI) under GAEC in January

2011 To officially spearhead astronomy and

space science related technology

projects and programmes And implement astronomy

developments plans, mind and

operate radio astronomy facilities

and research on behalf of the

nation. For socio-economic and

technological development

GSSTI Office Block

Radio Astronomy Projects in Ghana: SKA

Ghana will host a 30-dish single-feed antenna array on a proposed 400m×400m piece of land in the Kwahu mountain range area located at the south-central: of the eastern corridor / region of the country.

Radio Astronomy Projects: AVN GhanaRadio Astronomy Projects: AVN Ghana The AVN (African Very

Long Baseline Interferometry Network) concept was adopted by SKA Africa:

To build the needed capacity in the SKA African Partner Countries in terms of: - Infrastructure - Human Capital

● The plan had been to convert redundant 30m class antennas to radio telescopes or build new ones across the partner countries as training facilities in prep. for SKA.

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Redundant Telecom Antennas Across AfricaRedundant Telecom Antennas Across Africa● A search has revealed many 30m-

class redundant telecommunication antennas across Africa including 32m dish at Kuntunse in Ghana, with potentials for conversion for use as radio astronomy facilities

Redundant satellite communication earth station antennas across Africa in white dots Credit: Michael Gaylard

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Ghana 32m Antenna

Ghana 32m Antenna Conversion Project

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AVN Ghana Project

During 2011 - 2017

Assessment - refurbishment

Complete overhaul of the dish system

AVN SA & GSSTI Ghana Working Groups

Operational frequencies * 5 GHz (124 MHz) * 6.7 GHz (370 MHz)

Azimuth range: CW: +327 deg, CCW: - 8 deg

Elevation range: 5 - 90 deg

Speed: 0.09deg/sec

Angular Resolution: 6 arcmin (0.1 deg).

Steerable dish in both automatic and manual modes

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The Ghana 32m Antenna Conversion: worksThe Ghana 32m Antenna Conversion: works

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AVN Ghana Project: The SystemAVN Ghana Project: The System

Antenna Steering Control System (ASCS)

Dual Uncooled receiver (C-band) system at central Dual Uncooled receiver (C-band) system at central frequencies of 5 GHz and 6.7 GHz (C-band) frequencies of 5 GHz and 6.7 GHz (C-band)

The Rack with Science Equipment:The Rack with Science Equipment:

- - Roach Roach - DBBC / MarkV - DBBC / MarkV - Pulsar Timing System - Pulsar Timing System - Rubidium GPS Clock - Rubidium GPS Clock

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Science with the Ghana 32m Radio Telescope

Radio Continuum Flux measurements (with wideband multi-channel radiometer) – use known radio astronomy calibration sources for daily calibrations of receivers and also follow radio emissions from sources such as AGNs emitting gamma-ray flares.

Pulsar Observations (with wideband multi-channel pulsar timer) - monitor the behavior of pulsars of interest over a long period of time, such as those producing glitches and intermittent pulsars, and hunt for fast radio burst sources.

Emission Lines Spectroscopy (with narrowband multi-channel spectrometer) - maser line monitoring of star forming regions, including hydroxyl masers (1612, 1665, 1667, 1720 MHz) and methanol masers (6668 MHz).

(A) Single-Dish Science Cases:(ROACH & Pulsar Timer)

(B) VLBI Networks Science Cases: Mapping Interstellar masers in

star-forming regions in the Milky Way.

Determining the distances to star-forming regions in the Milky Way through methanol maser parallax measurement.

Imaging active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Resolving binary systems in extragalactic supermassive black holes.

Imaging radio emission from X-Ray binary systems and relativistic jets.

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Science with the Ghana 32m Radio Telescope

● Ghana's location of 50 North of the Equator gives it a distinct advantage of viewing the entire plane of the Milky Way and nearly the whole sky better than any existing telescope.

● It's proximity to the African Undersea Optic Fiber Cables promises greater bandwidth and faster internet connectivity for data transport, an added advantage

Science Cases will include:

single dish observations

VLBI Networks African Undersea fiber Optic Cables

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Big Hole in Existing VLBI Networks

Existing VLBI Networks

With the 32m radio telescope in Ghana

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VLBI UV Coverages – Ghana 32m Antenna Inputs (1) (1)

● There will be tremendous improvement in the imaging and calibration qualities (and sensitivity) with the inclusion of the Ghana 32m dish in all VLBI (mainly EVN) astronomy science cases.

● Examples of UV coverages with Ghana dish's impact in red tracks:

(a). In developing AVN (b). In existing EVN

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VLBI UV Coverages – Ghana 32m Antenna Inputs (2) (2)

● There will also be improvement in the imaging and calibration qualities with the inclusion of the Ghana 32m dish in both hemispheres.

● Examples of UV coverages with Ghana dish's impact in red tracks:

(d). In existing VLBI Networks - southern hemisphere

(c). In existing VLBI Networks - northern hemisphere

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Milestones for Science Operations Readiness

Milestone 1: Science Commissioning Phase 1 after successful Engineering Release 1 (November 2016 – June 2017)

Milestone 2: Science Commissioning Phase 2 after successful Engineering Release 2 to complete the conversion process (January 2018 – March 2018)

Milestone 3: Preliminary Science operations in VLBI and non-VLBI modes (April 2018 – September 2018)

Milestone 4: Successful Science operations in VLBI and Single dish modes at this stage signifies quality science readiness of the radio telescope (October 2018 – June 2019)

Beyond this point, the facility will be ready for lifetime science operations and continuous upgrades

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Commissioning Verification Activities: Targets achieved● Basic racking

● Full tracking & scanning

● Optical pointing & scanning

● Basic RF Pointing

● Calibrations source drift scans

● Full RF Pointing

● Detections of some known Methanol maser sources

● Continuum (Quasars) observations

● Five Point and Multiple Drift Scans for building Pointing Models

Methanol maser sources detected at 6.7 GHz includes:

G9.62, G188.95+0.89,

G133.94, G351.417+0.645

G345.01, G339.88, G318.94

G323.74, G49.49, G12.68

G6.189, G345.00

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● Introduction of Astronomy

in school curriculum ● Media interactions and

coverage of events. eg. Eclipse viewing, senior officials visits

Capacity Building in Radio Astronomy & TechnologyCapacity Building in Radio Astronomy & Technology

● Astronomy clubs in the higher education schools

● Training programmes for graduate students (RS- DARA)

● Summer schools for young astronomers

● Schools and Group visits at Kuntunse (GRAO)

● Invitation to speak at schools/colleges

Astronomy Projects: Outreach & Training

Asofam JHS New Adubiase SHS

Training programmeTraining programme Holy Shalom JHSHoly Shalom JHS

Royal Society/ Newton Fund: Training Programme

Participants Cohorts 1 - 12 Cohorts 2 – 13

During 2014 - 2017

Royal Society Training: PhD & MSc StudentshipCohorts 1 & 2 Products

Alexander – PhD in SA (Rhodes)

Proven - PhD in Ghana (UG)

Benedicta- PhD in Ghana (UG)

Diana- MSc in SA (Rhodes)

● Emmanuel – Msc in UK (HU)

● Michael – Msc in Russia

● Benjamin – Msc in Finland

Mavis – MSc in SA (NWU)

Prosper - MSc in Brazil

Emmanuel - MSc (DARA) in UK

Joseph- Msc (DARA) in UK

Naomi – PhD (DARA) in UK (MU)

Kuntunse Telescope Trainee Operators

Andrews

Benedicta

Kingsley

DARA – Radio Astronomy for development in Africa, a Newton Fund Project

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Ongoing Royal Society - DARA Observational and Technical Training Programme: April 19 – May 6, 2017Participants: (GRAO)

● Kenyan students: 10

● Ghanaian students: 18

Instructors: ● United Kingdom (4)

● The Netherlands (1)

● South Africa (AVN) (2)

● Ghana (2)

Royal Society/Newton Fund Training OutlineCourse Units for the Cohorts:

1. Astrophysics, Radio Astronomy Theory and multi-wavelength Astronomy

2. Radio Astronomy Observation, Survey Astronomy and Communication Skills

3. Radio Astronomy Data Reduction and Analysis, Telescope Time and PhD Applications

4. Satellite communication and Commercial Awareness (Entrepreneurship)

5. Observational and Technical training

6. Overseas Experience

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Up Coming Events

Unit 1 for Cohort 3● May 7 – 17, 2017

@ GSSTI

● 10 Students from Ghana

LAUNCHING OF GRAO

August 2017

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Take Home Messages

● The AVN concept is becoming a reality, with the successful implementation in Ghana

● Ghana will soon join radio astronomy community in doing both single dish and VLBI observations

● AVN Ghana is calling for support and collaborations to sustain and upgrade the facility for world-class science

● Proposals for key science projects for the observatory (GRAO) are warmly welcome

● GSSTI is again seeking for graduate study opportunities for its affiliated students and funds to sustain (and organize) more training programmes in astronomy in Ghana.

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….. And the GRAO .....

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