Bringing Radio Astronomy to the Classroom: A Low-Cost SDR Telescope for HI Detection
Science focus - Radio Astronomy
IAU OAE Conference 2026
Tuesday Nov. 17, 2026
UTC: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. America/New_York: 8 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.
UTC: 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. America/New_York: 1:30 p.m.- 3 p.m.
Wednesday Nov. 18, 2026
UTC: 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. America/New_York: 3 a.m.- 4:30 a.m.
Thursday Nov. 19, 2026
UTC: 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. America/New_York: 3 a.m.- 4:30 a.m.
UTC: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. America/New_York: 1 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Friday Nov. 20, 2026
UTC: 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. America/New_York: 4:30 a.m.- 6 a.m.
David Cherres
(Escuela Politécnica Nacional)
Observing neutral hydrogen (HI) is crucial for Milky Way kinematics, but expensive facilities limit STEM access in developing nations. We present a low-cost Software Defined Radio (SDR) telescope built and calibrated for 1420.4 MHz. It features a pyramidal horn antenna (20.6° resolution) and a 65 MHz bandwidth RF filter. Using standard position-switching (ON/OFF), we detected HI emissions across various Milky Way regions. By measuring positions along galactic arms, we determined the galaxy's rotational velocity. These results validate the instrument's viability for astrophysical data acquisition. This affordable model overcomes economic barriers, establishing a foundation for science education and radio astronomy in resource-limited regions.
Biography:
I am a final-year Physics student at the Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Ecuador, bridging theoretical modeling and observational astrophysics. My research focuses on the evolution of Damour-Solodukhin wormholes and characterizing dust properties in star-forming galaxies. Passionate about democratizing science, I recently led the construction of a low-cost radio telescope in Ecuador to map the Milky Way's kinematics. Beyond research, I am a dedicated science communicator, actively working to make STEM education accessible to underserved communities.
