How do radio telescopes work?

Topics:

Earth and Space Sciences – The Solar System

Physical Sciences – Energy

Additional: Careers

Concepts (South Australia):

Earth and Space Sciences – Earth in Space

Physical Sciences – Energy

Years: 5, 7, 9, 10

Video length: 1:45m

Astronomers have different ways of watching the universe, including optical telescopes like Hubble, and radio telescopes like the SKA. But how do radio telescopes actually work? This animation shows you how both dish and dipole antennae receive radio waves to observe distant galaxies in the Universe, and what astronomers do with that data.

This video was brought to you by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research.