Doing passive radio astronomy with a MST/ST System: a fast crosscorrelation algorithm

Abstract

There are not too many antennas in the VHF range in the world dedicated to radio astronomy. ST, and specially MST, radars require and have large antenna apertures which could also be used for radio astronomical observations. Definitely, the Jicamarca antenna, the largest in the world (300 m x 300 m), has a potential in this field which has not been fully exploited. The present paper was motivated by such application. In addition to the antennas, all radars, do their signal processing using digital equipment, which could also e used for this additional application. However, because of the large processing speed required by radio astronomy, some ingenuity and innovation is required.