Speaker
Description
Developing affordable and scalable radio astronomy systems is essential for expanding research capacity in countries with emerging scientific infrastructure. A low-cost Software Defined Radio (SDR)–enhanced Radio JOVE telescope offers a practical pathway for strengthening radio astronomy capability in Nigeria through hands-on Jovian decametric (DAM) observations. This work presents the deployment and testing of such an SDR-enhanced Radio JOVE system at the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy (CBSS) in Nsukka. The setup, comprising a dual-dipole antenna, coaxial feed lines, an SDRplay RSP1A, and a modern digital workflow (SDRConsole, SDRc2RSS, and Radio-Sky Spectrograph), enables broadband dynamic spectral acquisition with improved visualisation, flexible frequency coverage, and reliable long-duration digital recording. Three test observing sessions conducted between 22 and 24 May 2025 produced the first non-Io Jovian DAM detections reported from Nigeria: a non-Io B event showing strong broadband emissions from 22–24 MHz with bright L-burst–like structures (18:19–18:30 UTC); a non-Io A event featuring multi-structured, vertically streaked bursts and enhanced power near 19–20 MHz (18:10–18:45 UTC); and a non-Io C event characterized by low-intensity spectra with minor sweepers and radio frequency interference (RFI) spikes, consistent with quiet Jovian conditions. These initial results validate the sensitivity and scientific viability of the SDR-enhanced telescope and demonstrate SDR technology as an affordable, scalable platform for long-term planetary radio astronomy in Nigeria, supporting student training, workforce development, and broader participation in global low-frequency space science.
| Stream | Science or Engineering |
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