About the episode
Led by Leiden astronomers, an international team of researchers has managed to circumvent the disturbances in the Earth’s atmosphere with a new calibration technique.
This makes it possible to better study erupting black holes, for example. With the new technology they managed to create sharp radio maps at low frequencies. This was always seen as impossible, because these frequencies are distorted by the ionosphere about 80 kilometers above the Earth.
The researchers have now managed to avoid this. With the new method they have already imaged plasmas from old black hole outbursts. The technique may also be suitable for finding exoplanets orbiting small stars.
The LOFAR telescope in Drenthe was used for the research, currently one of the best radio telescopes in the world for low frequencies. More data is currently being analyzed. Ultimately, they hope to map the entire northern sky at these low frequencies.
Read more about the research here: Radio astronomers avoid disturbing Earth’s atmosphere with new calibration technique
Tags: Astronomers avoid disturbing Earths atmosphere technology
