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Radio Jove – Solar Eclipse Setup Instructions in preparation for August 21, 2017

Brief Summary

1. Observing Plan – coordinated practice sessions with Radio Jove Team 2. Equipment

a. Receiver tuned and working properly b. Antenna Setup – Single or Dual Dipole (No phasing cable for most US

observers) c. Calibrator (optional but encouraged for better scientific results) d. Windows Computer with Sound Card e. Sound Card – Line or Mic input; Check mixer settings f. Software – Update Radio-Skypipe Pro (to version 2.7.15 or later)

i. Set Identity and other Meta-data ii. Calibrator – run Cal Wizard

3. Site Check – Power requirements, check for interference, etc. 4. Safety Check

5. Data Collection for 6 hours – Set start/stop time for 3 hours from 18:30 UT

6. Data Analysis – Load data in Radio-Skypipe and check it 7. Data Archive – Upload your data: http://radiojove.org/archive.html

a. We suggest adding your name or initials to the filename before you upload it

b. For any image files that are calibrated as antenna temperature, please use a y-axis scale from 0-250,000 K

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Radio Jove – Solar Eclipse Setup Instructions in preparation for August 21, 2017

Introduction. The great American solar eclipse occurs Monday, August 21, 2017. While the narrow path of totality cuts across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina, the entire North American continent will be able to see a partial eclipse (Figure 1). Radio Jove observers can join in a science campaign to help study the Sun, the solar wind, and the Earth’s ionosphere. This is a set of instructions to help you set up your Radio Jove system so we can best compare data. We will make several practice observations over many months prior to the eclipse date so we are adequately prepared. Solar Eclipse website: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html

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Figure 1. This is a western hemisphere map showing the areas of partial and total solar eclipse. Radio observations may be useful from any of the eclipse zones. Image Credit: http://eclipse-maps.com. Single Dipole vs. Dual Dipole Array. A simple, single dipole can be used for adequately observing the Sun. It is more portable if you are setting it up at a temporary location. If you have a more permanent location, however, the dual dipole array is preferable because it will allow more sensitive monitoring of both Jupiter and the Sun. Its larger size, increased sensitivity, and ability for phasing, mean better reception of Jupiter and solar bursts. See the Radio Jove antenna construction manual for more information: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/telescope/equipment_manuals.htm. Single Dipole: The preferred setup is an E-W configuration because the dipole is more sensitive in the direction perpendicular to the wire. The eclipse takes place when the Sun is high in the sky (towards the South), so the best orientation of the wire dipole is E-W. Dual Dipole: Again the preferred setup is the dipoles in the E-W direction. Because the Sun will be high in the sky during the eclipse, we are recommending a zenith-pointing antenna beam (i.e., no phasing cable). See the antenna construction manual for specific details for the antenna setup.

Figure 2. Single dipole antenna at a height of 10 feet for the 20.1 MHz Radio Jove receiver. The feedline of RG-59 coax should be multiple half-wavelengths in length.

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Site Selection. A temporary setup of a single dipole can be an easy way to test your site. There are many sources of interference that can completely mask the signals that you are trying to hear. Power lines can be one of the worst. Others include electric fences, electrical machinery, computers, fluorescent lights. As a general rule it is a good idea to get as far away as possible from power lines or buildings full of computers or electrical machinery. The site can be a permanent site or portable site – if you observe at a portable site, check the site for interference many weeks or months prior to August 2017. Connecting the Antenna and Receiver. Connect the antenna to the receiver shown in Figure 2. You can listen with an amplified speaker or by the computer speakers.

Figure 3. Radio Jove receiver setup with computer and a 12V battery to power the receiver and the calibrator. An optional speaker is attached to one of the audio jacks. The gray audio cable goes from the receiver to the computer mic or line-in input. Power. The 12V DC power source can be the power supply that came with your Radio Jove kit, a lantern battery (EverReady 732), or a regulated power supply such as the Jameco 162996. If you use battery power, test the battery voltage every few hours to make sure it has not

Antenna Connection

Audio Connections:

to speaker, computer

Power

Battery

Receiver

Computer running

Radio-Skypipe software

Calibrator

Calibrator

Receiver rear panel

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dropped below 11 volts. The Jove radio should be turned on for this measurement. It is not recommended that you use a car battery. Audio Output. Per the antenna construction manual, connect an audio cable from one of the Jove receiver audio output jacks to the computer sound card input. Desktop computers have line and mic inputs while laptops usually have only a mic input. The mic input is often mono and much more sensitive, but there can be problems if it competes with a default voice-activated mic input. If you are using a laptop, check carefully that you are displaying the signal from the radio. The preferred option is the line input which is a stereo input, supporting both left and right channels. Check your computer sound card mixer panel and the Radio-Skypipe software under [Options/Source] for setup options. Receiver Controls. Set your receiver power/volume control to the 12 o’clock position. Adjust your software volume controls in Windows for a baseline signal around 1000 on SkyPipe with the antenna connected. You should hear a significant increase in noise level when the antenna is connected to the receiver as compared to listening to the receiver with no antenna (Figure 4). Set the Tuning dial on the receiver to a quiet frequency between stations.

Figure 4. Typical Radio-Skypipe trace showing effect of connecting and disconnecting antenna. Calibration (optional, but recommended). If you have a calibrator, please connect it as shown in Figure 3. Run the Calibration Wizard on the Radio-Skypipe software to convert your data to an absolute scale (antenna temperature, kelvins). While the arbitrary scale is perfectly fine, the absolute scale allows the data to be more scientifically useful. Figure 5 shows some sample solar bursts with an uncalibrated scale and a calibrated scale. More details on calibration are here: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/telescope/equipment_manuals.htm. Computer Timing. Check that your computer clock is accurate. Set your computer clock to match a reputable source (i.e., www.time.gov). Accurate timing is essential for data comparison of solar bursts and other ionospheric phenomena. Use Radio-Skypipe Pro version and Atomic Clock.

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Radio-Skypipe Software The computer should be running the latest version of Radio-SkyPipe software – get the free version here: http://radiosky.com/skypipeishere.html (update to version 2.7.15 via the menu item Help/Skypipe News after you install the software). Follow the software setup guidelines to make sure the receiver output is being displayed on the computer. A few key parameters to set: Options/Identity – Complete this to the best of your ability; use the correct time zone Options/Strip Chart – Chart Time Format HH:MM:SS [This is the default setting.] Options/Logging – Check the Log Using Universal Time [This is the default setting.] Options/Timing – If possible, check the Auto-start Atomic Clock (Pro Version) Excellent Radio-Skypipe Help: http://radiosky.com/skypipehelp/V2/skypipehelpindex.html

Figure 5. (Top) Uncalibrated chart showing typical solar bursts – each burst usually lasts less than a minute. Bursts may come singly or in groups. Usually there is more activity when there are visible sunspots on the Sun. (Bottom) Similar chart with a calibrated scale in kilo-Kelvin.

Sk

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s A

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Tem

per

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(k

K) 5120

2560

1280

320

0

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Safety. 1. Avoid Lightning (always disconnect the antenna when not in use, and always disconnect

the antenna before a lightning storm is present, and preferably well before the storm arrives.)

2. Never assemble the antenna under overhead power lines. The antenna should be located as far from overhead power lines as is practical.

3. Mark your guy ropes with reflective high visibility tape Solar Eclipse Observations. The full solar eclipse lasts for about 3 hours. Even though totality may only be a few minutes, radio observations throughout the entire eclipse may be useful. Even regions of the country outside the path of totality may see changes in the ionosphere, or they may get lucky and see a solar burst while others may have that solar burst obscured by the Moon. Although a solar radio burst event during the time of a solar eclipse is highly unlikely, we must be opportunists and be ready. Science thrives on serendipitous discoveries. Also for good scientific reasons, we recommend making observations with the exact same setup a couple of days before and a couple of days after the eclipse.

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Here is a table of the recommended radio observation times.

Date Time (UT) PDT MDT CDT EDT

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

Saturday, August 19, 2017

15:30 – 21:30 UT

8:30 am – 2:30 pm

9:30 am – 3:30 pm

10:30 am – 4:30 pm

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Sunday, August 20, 2017

15:30 – 21:30 UT

8:30 am – 2:30 pm

9:30 am – 3:30 pm

10:30 am – 4:30 pm

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Monday, August 21, 2017

15:30 – 21:30 UT

8:30 am – 2:30 pm

9:30 am – 3:30 pm

10:30 am – 4:30 pm

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

15:30 – 21:30 UT

8:30 am – 2:30 pm

9:30 am – 3:30 pm

10:30 am – 4:30 pm

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

15:30 – 21:30 UT

8:30 am – 2:30 pm

9:30 am – 3:30 pm

10:30 am – 4:30 pm

11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Archive Your Data. The Jove team maintains a data archive on the Jove website: http://radiojove.org/archive.html. Please submit your records to this archive so they may be used later for analysis. From the website you can request a password then upload your data per instructions there. Help or advice. Contact a Jove team member: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/contacts.htm See the hands-on tutorial on the website (although a bit dated, there are many good tips for observing here): http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/help/ The Radio Jove receiver, antenna, and calibrator manuals have good information about the setup. You can find them here: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/telescope/equipment_manuals.htm

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SAMPLE OBSERVING LOG FORMS Name: Observing Partner(s): The source can be Jupiter, the Sun, WWV time signal, or other source. Mark the times when you get interesting activity along with the appropriate notes on that activity.

Observation Log

Date Start Time (UT)

Stop Time (UT)

Start Time (local)

Stop Time (local)

Source (Sun, Jup, etc.)

Activity Notes (indicate times of solar or Jupiter activity, interference, equipment problems, etc.)

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SAMPLE PLANNING CHECKLIST (before observing day) This is the first checklist, which should be completed by the team leader no later than 1 day prior to the actual observing day. However, most items on this checklist should be completed further in advance as noted to the left of each item. Flags or reflective tape, under equipment checkout, should be tied to the cable running from the antenna to the receiver to prevent someone from tripping.

Topic Days Before Observation

Item Check

When to Observe 3 Weather forecast

7 Jupiter or solar predictions

Site Selection 7 Where to set up

7 Site permission

7 Power and auxiliary power

Transportation 7 Vehicle, gas, directions

Equipment Check Out

1 Receiver

1 Battery and spare

1 Speakers/headphones

1 Computer + fully-charged battery

1 Software

1 Audio and power cables

1 Antenna(s) (poles, ropes, stakes, flags or reflective tape)

Tools 1 Screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, wrench

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SAMPLE OBSERVING DAY CHECKLIST This is the second checklist, which should be completed prior to leaving to make observations. Remember to give yourself some time in order to set up the equipment and possibly take some group pictures. Also remember to bring extra clothing in case the weather turns cool. Adequate lighting, batteries, chairs, and portable tables are important to bring as well.

Topic Item Check

Spare Equipment Alternate power source(s)

Chairs/tables

Extra Clothing

Getting There Loading equipment

Arrive about 1 hour before observations

Check in with site owner

Set Up Unloading

Antenna set up

Receiver set up

Computer set up

Group pictures

Observations Test equipment together (2-3 minute sample observation)

Possibly check for WWV signal at 20.0 MHz

Receiver tuning (as close to 20.1 MHz as possible, i.e. about 12 o’clock on the tuning dial)

Calibration

Software

Observer Logs

Packing Up Site clean up