1. •This is my high school science project
   

2. •International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 1997
   

3. •1.425 GHz radio telescope (radiometer)
   

4. •+-25 MHz (approx.) analog spectrum analyzer radiometer
   

5. •Frequency domain blanking
   

6. •Automatic tracking of narrow band signals
   

7. •3 stage superheterodyne receiver
   

8. •Utilization of surplus military electronics from the 1950’s
   

9. •Applications include mitigation of radio frequency interference (RFI)
   

10. •The following information is provided:
    

11. •Summary
    

12. •Reports, notes, and schematics
    

13. •List of awards
    

14. •Pictures of hardware
    

Summary

This was my high school science fair project. I began development of the 1.425 GHz radio astronomy receiver during the summer of 1995, and finished the project in the spring of 1997. This system was developed for the Grosse Pointe South Radio Astronomy Team (RATS as we were known). It is a triple conversion superhet receiver, with a spectrum analyzer IF. The analog (square law amplitude vs. frequency) output of the spectrum analyzer was fed into an analog signal processor designed using an array of 24 op-amps which would automatically track the four strongest signals and plot their frequency and amplitudes vs. time on a series of strip chart recorders.

Press

‘Pointer of Interest,’ Grosse Pointe News, December 1997.

Grosse Pointe North/South Radio Astronomy Team (RATS)

Web page and current research.

Reports, Notes, and Schematics

International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 1997 Abstract

Report on the radio telescope (this was written when I was 17 years old, so please forgive the english/technical reporting methods)

Figures from the report, schematics, and engineering notes

Detroit Science and Engineering Fair 1997 Poster Board

ISEF 97 Poster Board

Elevation Motion Control System (schematics and notes)

Awards

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR LOUISVILLE, KY MAY 1997 PROJECT: "Identifying and Reducing Radio Frequency Interference Through Spectrum Analysis", Grand Award Finalist, Second Place Grand Award in Engineering, the NASA Award, and Honorable Mention from the American Acoustical Society.

DETROIT SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR DETROIT, MI APRIL 1997 PROJECT: "Identifying and Reducing Radio Frequency Interference Through Spectrum Analysis", First place in Engineering, First place Army Award, First place Air Force Award, Most Outstanding 11th Grade Exhibit from Yale Science and Engineering Associates, First Place Grand Award from the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, Third Place from the state of Michigan and Grand Award Alternate.