Toruń Centre for Astronomy

Infobox Observatory
name = Toruń Centre for Astronomy
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organization = Nicolaus Copernicus University
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location = North of Toruń, Poland
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website = [http://www.astri.uni.torun.pl/ www.astri.uni.torun.pl]
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The Toruń Centre for Astronomy is an optical and radio observatory located at (coor dms|53|5|42.9|N|18|33|45.9|E) near about 15 km north of Toruń, Poland. It houses two single-dish antenna telescopes, 32 metres and 15 metres in diameter, as well as the largest Polish optical telescope - 90-cm Schmidt-Cassegrain camera. The facility is operated by the Nicolaus Copernicus University. Also, photometry using 60-cm Cassegrain telescope is made and radio measurements of the Sun at 127MHz frequency are recorded on a daily basis since 1958 using 23m interferometer.

Radio astronomy

Since 1981 the observatory has been a part of world wide network of radio telescopes participating in VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry). The 32 m telescope is a 620-ton construction designed by Zygmunt Bujakowski based on initial geometric parameters created by Dr Jerzy Usowicz. It is used in VLBI experiments, as well as spectroscopic, flux, polarisation measurements and pulsar observations. Currently receivers for frequencies 1.4-1.8GHz, 5GHz, 6.5GHz, 10.8GHz and 30GHz are in use.

The 15-m telescope is used for training students of the Nicolaus Copernicus University.

The observatory's role as a VLBI station is unique in central/eastern Europe. International collaboration and involvement in various European research projects is the major activity of this department. The research concentrates on observations and theoretical interpretation of physical processes in compact active regions of radio galaxies and quasars, observational cosmology, the timing of pulsars, the search for new planetary systems and Solar System studies. In addition, the development of instrumentation for radio astronomy (ultra low noise receivers, spectrometers, frequency converters, digital electronics, control systems) is also a significant part of activities in the observatory. Since 1997 the Department of Radio Astronomy has been a part of Toruń Centre for Astronomy at the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Informatics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. From 1998 the department has undertaken the additional function of a National Facility with a major aims of serving Polish astronomers and emphasizing international cooperation.

ee also

* List of radio telescopes

External links

* [http://www.astri.uni.torun.pl/ Official website]
* [http://www.astro.uni.torun.pl/ Radio Observatory website]