Sardinia Radio Telescope

The Sardinia Radio Telescope is a recently completed (2011) radio telescope based in Pranu Sanguni, near Sant'Andrea Frius and San Basilio, about 35 km north of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy).

The 64-m primary reflector will has an active surface made of 1008 aluminium panels (RMS ≤ 65 μm) moved by 1116 actuators. The active surface is essential for observations at high frequencies (23 to 100 GHz). The most important feature of the SRT is, in fact, its extreme frequency agility: it is able to observe from 300 MHz to 100 GHz and can easily swap receivers (20 in total can be in principle installed on the three focal positions and be positioned 11 to 190 s).

SRT in Europe

The receivers commissioned for the telescope first light are:

• Primary focus: dual L (1.3-1.8 GHz) P (305-425 MHz) band coaxial;
• Gregorian focus: K band multibeam (18-26 GHz);
• BWG focus: C band (5.7-7.7 GHz);

For more detailed information, please visit the project website.