SPIDER 500A 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope for radio astronomy

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope

For radio astronomy

SPIDER 500A MarkII is the 5 meter diameter radio telescope designed to make 1420 MHz professional level radio astronomy accessible to everyone: universities, science institutes and museums or space agencies. It offers a large 5 meter diameter antenna to detect weaker signals with a better resolution and the large GS-400II tracking system that provides very high pointing and tracking precision. SPIDER 500A MarkII is designed to be shipped and installed all over the world!

Thanks to the new generation electronics and improved mechanics, SPIDER 500A MarkII is more sensitive, faster and more precise, thus allowing anyone to do real radio astronomy without the need to be a radio astronomer!

€ 99.950,00VAT excluded       CONTACT US TO ORDER

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SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter advanced radio telescope for radio astronomy: main features

  • SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter radio telescope: professional level radio astronomy, we can ship and install all over the World!
  • WEB500-5 5 meter diameter prime focus antenna with special designed front and rear supports: it comes with 1420 MHz optimised feed and 2 LNAs for LHCP and RHCP circular polarisation.
  • GS-400II weatherproof alt-az antenna tracking system with N-ACU Next generation Antenna Control Unit: connected to Control Room with a standard network cable up to 100 meters long, thanks to the optional MoF (Mount-over-Fiber) kit, you can position the antenna even further by replacing the network cable with a dedicated optical fiber that can be up to 2km long.
  • C400-HEAVY high load capacity pier for concrete base: designed to keep the radio telescope permanently installed in the field.
  • High antenna slewing speed, now up to 2°/sec for each axis, that improves data acquisition time during radio telescope use and integrated safety system with emergency stop button (optional light and audio signals).
  • Industrial-Grade temperature working range: SPIDER 500A MarkII antenna and tracking system is able to work in environments with temperatures from -25°C to +55°C
  • H142-One 1420 MHz radio astronomy receiver, 50 MHz instantaneous bandwidth radiometer and 1024 channels spectrometer to be installed in the control room on a standard 19″ rack or on a table.
  • RadioUniversePRO control and acquisition software for Windows 10/11, designed to control all devices of SPIDER radio telescope and to collect radio astronomy data.
SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope
WEB500-5 5.0 meter diameter prime focus antenna: fine metallic mesh construction, with special front and rear supports
H-FEED 1420 Mhz optimized feed designed circular polarization, it comes with with 2 high gain and stability 1420 MHz LNA units and
GS-400II antenna tracking system with N-ACU Next generation Antenna Control Unit, 400kg payload capacity and encoders with a read resolution of 0,0015°
C400-HEAVY high load capacity pier for concrete base, designed to keep the radio telescope permanently installed in the field
RadioUniversePRO software for radio astronomy: the control, data capture and processing software for SPIDER radio telescopes
H142-One receiver for radio astronomy: 50 MHz instantaneous bandwidth radiometer and 1024 channels spectrometer

SPIDER 500A MarkII advanced radio telescope includes everything you need to make radio astronomy at 1420 MHz frequency. In this video you can see the various elements that make up the radio telescope: antenna, tracking system and pier which are installed outside; receiver and software that are installed in the control room.

WEB500-5: the 5 meter prime focus parabolic antenna

The WEB500-5 parabolic antenna has been developed to get a powerful radio telescope, that, thanks to fine metallic mesh construction, provides a large collection surface with a low overall weight. Special rear supports maintain the rigidity of the whole parabolic antenna on the mount, avoiding any bending and ensuring the effectiveness of the pointing system. This also helps to maintain a perfect parabolic shape with a maximum error of less than lambda/20.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope
SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: H-FEED 1420 MHz optimized feedhorn

H-FEED: the 1420 MHz optimized feedhorn

Developed specifically for SPIDER radio telescopes, the H-FEED feedhorn is designed for optimal illumination of the primary reflector, allowing for high gain while reducing side lobes and the spillover effect, thus obtaining the best possible performance from the 5 meter parabolic antenna. The feedhorn is designed to allow the reception of dual polarization with support for two professional Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) for the 1420 MHz frequency. The feedhorn is positioned at the perfect point of focus of the antenna through a rigid structure with four supports to minimize obstruction, with a focusing device to precisely focus and maximize the performance of the entire radio telescope.

GS-400II: the weatherproof antenna tracking system

Radio astronomy can be performed during day or night time – even in cloudy conditions, since the 1420 MHz radio waves are not blocked by clouds. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, we designed the GS-400II weatherproof antenna tracking system allowing you to leave the SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope permanently installed outside. Equipped with N-ACU electronics (Next generation Antenna Control Unit) integrated in the tracking system, it offers target high resolution automatic frame and track, advanced remote control features, efficient monitoring and operational analysis of all components of the antenna tracking system. The GS-400II antenna tracking system has a 400 Kg load capacity and encoders with a read resolution of 0,0015°. It can also be equipped with a special electronic security system (optional) which “parks” the antenna pointed at the Zenith (the vertical position where it is safely locked) when the wind exceeds 50 Km/h, offering the lowest resistance to the wind.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope
SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: C400-HEAVY high load capacity pier

C400-HEAVY: the high load capacity pier

The WEB500-5 antenna, for its large diameter, can generate a lot of force on the ground – When combined with the weight of the GS-400II antenna tracking system, a very stable and robust anchoring system is required. The C400-HEAVY pier offers all of these features, and is designed to keep the SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope permanently installed in the field on a concrete base that has to be prepared by the customer (an example of concrete base design is provided in the SPIDER user manual).

H142-One: the 1420 MHz receiver for radioastronomy, radiometer and spectrometer

H142-One receiver has been specially developed together with Bologna INAF Institute of Radio Astronomy specifically for SPIDER radio telescopes. H142-One provides professional technologies used by radio astronomers for radio astronomy research in a scientifically certified and easy to use receiver, perfect even with compact size antennas: it’s a 1420 MHz superheterodyne type radiometer/spectrometer, double conversion (type UP/DOWN) with 50 MHz received instantaneous bandwidth (RF=1.395MHz-1.445MHz) and 14-bit analog to digital converter. The H142-One receiver has spectrometer with 1024 channels (61 KHz spectral resolution) that are displayed and processed in real time by the control software supplied with the radio telescope. Thanks to the high gain and the low electronic noise of this receiver, the SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope is able to record many radio sources of the Universe. The H142-One receiver can be installed on a 19″ rack but it can also be placed on a table close to the control computer. Thanks to two dedicated IF outputs, the H142-One radio astronomy receiver allows to even improve performances by adding the optional BKND-Pro professional backend making this the perfect instrument for educational and research institutions that want to create a radio astronomy program.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: H142-One 1420 MHz receiver for radioastronomy, radiometer and spectrometer
SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: RadioUniversePRO control, data capture and processing software for radio astronomy

RadioUniversePRO: the control, data capture and processing software for radio astronomy

SPIDER 500A MarkII comes with RadioUniversePRO  that is the most advanced software ever developed for real radio astronomy with compact radio telescopes: it gives you all the power to control the different components of your radio telescope with an immediate and easy-to-use interface. You do not have to worry about using different softwares, RadioUniversePRO is your intuitive control and data acquisition interface with the radio telescope. It allows you to control the antenna position and acquisition parameters of the receiver. This way you cannot only record data coming from the sky (deleting eventual artificial signal interferences) but also transits or radio-images of radio sources in the sky you want to study. RadioUniversePRO lets you save recorded data in graphical format as visualized on the user interface but you can also save raw data in FITS format compatible with NASA FITS Viewer, this way you can quickly open and view their data and export them to process with other softwares. System requirements are Windows 10/11 (suggested: 64 bit version), screen resolution at least 1920 x 1080, RAM memory 4 GB (suggested: 8 GB), processor i3 (suggested: i5 or i7). RadioUniversePRO is not sold separately and is supplied only with SPIDER radio telescopes. If you want to know more about RadioUniversePRO radio astronomy software for SPIDER radio telescope, click here to read the article.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope for radio astronomy: specifications

  • Antenna diameter (m): 5.0
  • Antenna type: Prime focus
  • Feed: optimised for 1420 MHz, LHCP and RHCP
  • Working frequency: 1395 – 1445 MHz
  • Bandwidth: 50 MHz
  • LNA: 2 high gain and stability 1420 MHz LNA units
  • Azimuth max Velocity: 2 deg/s
  • Elevation max Velocity: 2 deg/s
  • Encoders read resolution: 0,0015°
  • Radiometer: 50 MHz instantaneous bandwidth
  • A/D converter: 14 bits
  • Spectrometer: 1024 channels
  • Spectral resolution: 61 KHz
  • Control software: RadioUniversePRO
  • Weatherproof: Yes
  • Operating Altitude: 3000m max, above 1000m derating of 1%/100m
  • Operating Temperature: -25°C to +55°c
  • Continuous wind speed for operational tracking: 50 km/h
  • Maximum wind speed in stow position: 150 km/h
  • Weight: 1000 kg
  • Supply voltage: 1×100-240V AC + 1x220V AC
  • Emergency stop switch

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope for radio astronomy: site preparations

SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope is designed to be installed on a concrete base with an underground duct connecting the antenna to control room that the customer has to prepare before the installation (suggested design is provided in the SPIDER 500A MarkII user manual). The image below shows cables and connections that are needed to connect antenna external unit to the control room. Power and grounding systems are needed and they have to be provided by the customer.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: site preparations

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope for radio astronomy: optional accessories

  • NSGen noise generator for calibration: specifically designed for SPIDER radio telescopes, it allows RadioUniversePRO software to calculate the flux in Jy of a radio source or sky area, by compensating atmospheric attenuation or any gain loss because of different factors (for example, antenna deformation because of its weight). The NSGen noise generator is installed on the SPIDER H-FEED for 1420 MHz frequency and connects directly to the H142-One radio astronomy receiver of SPIDER radio telescopes.
  • Radio-over-Fiber kit for SPIDER radio telescope: it allows you to have fiber optic cable connecting the antenna to the H142-One radio astronomy receiver in the control room, instead of the standard coaxial cables. This way you remove the normal gain loss because of cable length and you improve even more performances of your SPIDER radio telescope.
  • Mount-over-Fiber kit for SPIDER radio telescope: it allows to remotely control the radio telescope from very long distances by replacing the network cable with a dedicated optical fiber that can be up to 2km long.
  • Internal cooling system: suggested in case of climatic conditions with very high temperatures, if the internal temperature in the antenna tracking system head exceeds +55°C (can be installed only when ordering, it is not possible to add it later).
  • BKND-Pro professional backend: by adding it to H142-One receiver of SPIDER radio telescopes, BKND-Pro backend allows you to sample the signal with higher spectral resolution than the integrated H142-One spectrometer, this way bringing the most advanced professional technology to the world of education for radio astronomy and SETI applications with SPIDER radio telescopes.
  • Wind sensor for SPIDER radio telescopes: integrated with RadioUniversePRO software, it allows to continuously read the speed and direction of the wind for safety reasons: this way, if the wind speed exceeds the safety speed, the radio telescope is automatically moved in a safe position with the antenna pointing the Zenith, thus reducing the wind load on the antenna.
  • CMP-19 computer for SPIDER radio telescopes: this is a Windows 10 Pro computer that can be installed on a standard 19″ rack and it’s the best solution to install RadioUniversePRO software and remotely control SPIDER radio telescopes. CMP-19 has the same form factor of all the other Radio2Space instruments that can be installed on a rack.
  • RK19 rack for SPIDER radio telescopes: it’s the rack designed to allow you install all the receivers and accessories that fit in a 19″ rack. RK19 has 24 units, it comes with a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) to let you connect (with remote on/off) up to 8 devices and 4 fans with temperature sensor to keep control on your devices temperature.
  • “Radioastronomy: introduction to invisible sky” book: Are you interested in radio astronomy? Do you want to know how do radio telescopes work? This book will allow you to discover the amazing world of the Universe that our eyes cannot see but that we can study with radio techniques. Author Filippo Bradaschia (founder of PrimaLuceLab) explains the different themes of this science in a simple and understandable format thanks to a series of pictures and illustrations and where possible without using complicated formulas.

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope for radio astronomy: dimensions

SPIDER 500A MarkII 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: dimensions

SPIDER MarkII radio telescopes for radio astronomy: much more than an antenna

SPIDER MarkII radio telescope is the result of 10 years in research by PrimaLuceLab engineering team that designs, develops, assembles and tests in-house all our radio telescopes. This way SPIDER MarkII radio telescopes provide unmatched performance by standard off-the-shelf antennas that are not designed for radio astronomy: better tracking and pointing precision, higher sensitivity, dedicated radio astronomy software, better engineering quality and great italian design!

Since we create SPIDER MarkII radio telescopes in our factory in Italy, you can take advantage of the direct relation with the us that are the real radio telescope manufacturer. Our pre-sale service can help you in everything you may need before your radio telescope order. Our post-sale support can provide you with updates for hardware and software products that we specifically develop for our radio telescopes. Our internal team of trained technicians is also able to install SPIDER MarkII at your location, all around the World!

SPIDER MarkII radio telescope for radio astronomy: much more than an antenna

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Orion A mapped with the SPIDER 500A radio telescope in Sharjah

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Radio2Space team completed the installation of a new SPIDER 500A radio telescope in Sharjah Center for Astronomy & Space Sciences, close to Dubai in the United Arabic Emirates and now it’s time for the first light. SPIDER 500A is a 5 meter radio telescope that, thanks to the large antenna and the specifically designed radio astronomy receiver, offers a very high sensitivity. We decided to capture data from Orion A, the Orion Nebula (M42) that emits also radio waves at the 1420 MHz frequency (flux 490 Jy) recorded by the radio telescope.

Installations

SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope installed in Planetarium – Silesian Science Park (Poland)

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A new SPIDER 500A MarkII  radio telescope, with 5 meter diameter antenna, has just being installed at the Planetarium – Silesian Science Park in Poland! The radio telescope, that will be used for educational and outreach activities, has been manufactured by PrimaLuceLab in its italian headquarters, then shipped to the customer location: then PrimaLuceLab Installation Team moved to Planetarium – Silesian Science Park, assembled the antenna with tracking system and pier, connected all the devices in the remote control room (radio astronomy receiver with backend, fiber optic links and computer with RadioUniversePRO software) and had a training session.

SPIDER 500A radio telescope installed in Eton College, UK

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Eton College, located in Windsor, close to London UK, has been founded by King Henry VI in 1440 and is particularly well known for its history and notable alumni. PrimaLuceLab Installation Team completed the installation of a new SPIDER 500A radio telescope for radio astronomy that will be used by Eton College for educational activities.

SPIDER 500A installed in Kielder Observatory (UK)

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Kielder Observatory, a public astronomical observatory providing great outreach activities, now has also a SPIDER 500A radio telescope for radio astronomy to let visitors experience the cosmos even in daytime or in typical UK cloudy conditions. PrimaLuceLab Installation Team completed the installation of the 5 meter diameter instrument with receivers, environmental sensors and software in the control room and provided training service to the astronomers of Kielder Observatory.

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