National Gwacheon Science Museum, "Experience Observing the Sun with a Radio Telescope"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Gwacheon National Science Museum announced on the 26th that it will operate an experience program to observe the sun using a radio telescope for two months starting next month on the 1st.

The Gwacheon National Science Museum possesses the largest radio telescope in domestic science museums, with a diameter of 7.2 meters. Using two frequency bands (1.4GHz, 2.8GHz), it can observe the sun, moon, supernova remnants, neutral hydrogen in the spiral arms of our galaxy, and can also receive radio waves from artificial satellites. Supernova remnants refer to the debris created by a supernova explosion at the final evolutionary stage of a massive star, and neutral hydrogen is a hydrogen atom composed of one proton and one electron.

Observing celestial bodies with a radio telescope instead of an optical telescope provides new information, such as the fact that supernova remnants are more widely spread than observed in the visible light spectrum and the velocity observation of the spiral arms of our galaxy. Unlike optical telescopes, which are heavily affected by weather and the presence of the sun and may be unable to observe depending on conditions, radio telescopes can observe celestial bodies regardless of such variables. It is rare for science museums overseas to have radio telescopes; most radio telescopes are operated by research institutions.

In Korea, the representative research radio telescopes include the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, consisting of three 21-meter diameter telescopes. Overseas, there are the world's largest radio telescope, the 500-meter Chinese FAST (Five hundred Aperture Spherical Telescope), and ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) in Chile.

The Gwacheon Science Museum also plans to allow visitors to view the results of controlling the radio telescope and receiver, storing observation data, and analyzing changes in radio intensity by frequency and over time using analysis software through its self-developed control software. The program will proceed in the order of a brief introduction to radio astronomy and radio telescopes, demonstration of radio telescope operation, solar observation and explanation of analysis data using various observation methods, and providing the sound of the sun by converting the observed radio signals into audio.

During the operation period, the program will be held three times a day on holidays and weekends, and reservations can be made for up to 5 people (4th grade elementary school and above) per session through the Gwacheon Science Museum website. When social distancing is eased, up to 10 people can participate, and the program will not operate at level 2.5 or higher.

Dr. Jo Jae-il, head of the Astronomy and Space Team at the Gwacheon Science Museum, said, "Radio telescopes are observation equipment that the general public rarely encounters, so directly experiencing observing radio waves coming from space will be very helpful." Detailed information about the program can be found on the Gwacheon National Science Museum's YouTube channel and website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.