DARA training @ Hartebeesthoek - 2025 September
from
Sunday, 14 September 2025 (08:00)
to
Sunday, 28 September 2025 (14:00)
Monday, 8 September 2025
Tuesday, 9 September 2025
Wednesday, 10 September 2025
Thursday, 11 September 2025
Friday, 12 September 2025
Saturday, 13 September 2025
Sunday, 14 September 2025
Monday, 15 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Welcome + Site Safety
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Welcome + Site Safety
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
08:00 - 09:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:00
Fourier Analysis
-
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
Fourier Analysis
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
09:00 - 10:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:30
Digital Signal Processing
-
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
Digital Signal Processing
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
Fourier and DSP Exercises
-
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
Fourier and DSP Exercises
Heystek Grobler
(
North-West University (NWU)
)
13:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00
Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 16 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: Visitor Centre
08:00
An introduction to radiofrequency receivers for radio astronomy
-
Tinus Stander
(
University of Pretoria
)
An introduction to radiofrequency receivers for radio astronomy
Tinus Stander
(
University of Pretoria
)
08:00 - 10:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:00
Tea
Tea
10:00 - 10:30
Room: Foyer
10:30
Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how
-
Tinus Stander
(
University of Pretoria
)
Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how
Tinus Stander
(
University of Pretoria
)
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
Radiometer Equation
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Radiometer Equation
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Summary of variables in the Radiometer Equation wrt to observational requirements (simpilifed) plus adaption for pulsar observations.
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00
Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Time and Position from Astronomy
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Time and Position from Astronomy
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
08:00 - 08:55
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:55
Space Geodesy
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Space Geodesy
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
08:55 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
General background and an overview of what we do at SARAO Hartebeesthoek site
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
10:15 - 10:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:45
GNSS processing with GAMIT/GLOBK
-
Slindile Nyide
(
SARAO
)
Nkululeko Qwabe
(
SARAO - Geodesy
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
GNSS processing with GAMIT/GLOBK
Slindile Nyide
(
SARAO
)
Nkululeko Qwabe
(
SARAO - Geodesy
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
10:45 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Introduce GAMIT/GLOBK for: - Timeseries - PWV
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
GNSS Exercise with GAMIT/GLOBK
-
Slindile Nyide
(
SARAO
)
Nkululeko Qwabe
(
SARAO - Geodesy
)
GNSS Exercise with GAMIT/GLOBK
Slindile Nyide
(
SARAO
)
Nkululeko Qwabe
(
SARAO - Geodesy
)
13:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Use GAMIT/GLOBK for: - Timeseries - PWV
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00
Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 18 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Geodesy's remote station network
-
Bongani Ngcobo
(
NRF/SARAO
)
Geodesy's remote station network
Bongani Ngcobo
(
NRF/SARAO
)
10:15 - 11:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
Brightness temperature of the sun 1
-
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
Brightness temperature of the sun 1
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Calibrating a small Radio Telescope
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2
-
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Measuring the brightness temperature of the sun using a DSTV dish
Friday, 19 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Introduction to Pulsars
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Introduction to Pulsars
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Pular backend systems
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Pular backend systems
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Week 1 wrap-up + feedback
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Week 1 wrap-up + feedback
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds, UK
)
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
15:00 - 15:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:30
Data collection with 26m dish
-
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
Data collection with 26m dish
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
15:30 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 20 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:30
Outing: Cradlestone Mall
Outing: Cradlestone Mall
08:30 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
(11 students max) Outing to Cradlestone Mall, if you want to do something different or look for gift - this mall has a huge variety of shops so it should offer something for most / all.
Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
08:30 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
(12 students max)
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00
Dinner - braai
Dinner - braai
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Sunday, 21 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Weekend Outing
Weekend Outing
08:00 - 16:30
18:30
Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Monday, 22 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Masers
-
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
Masers
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Caibration of RA data - theory + exercise
-
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
Caibration of RA data - theory + exercise
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
10:15 - 11:20
Room: VC and Lecture Room
11:00
Spectral line reduction
-
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
Spectral line reduction
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
11:00 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:05
Spectral line reduction 2
-
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
Spectral line reduction 2
Fanie van den Heever
(
North West University
)
13:05 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 1
-
Siphelele Blose
Ronnie Nombembe
(
SARAO
)
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 1
Siphelele Blose
Ronnie Nombembe
(
SARAO
)
15:00 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Location: Microwave workshop Content: Providing an overview of a typical receiver (VGOS test receiver) and associated power supply and control components. Practical measurements of various radio frequency components. Ambient tests and starting a cool down of the test receiver.
18:30
Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Building an Observatory
-
Philip Mey
(
SARAO
)
Pieter Stronkhorst
(
SARAO HartRAO
)
Building an Observatory
Philip Mey
(
SARAO
)
Pieter Stronkhorst
(
SARAO HartRAO
)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
Engineering workshops tour
-
Philip Mey
(
SARAO
)
Engineering workshops tour
Philip Mey
(
SARAO
)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Walk through the different engineering workshops at HartRAO giving an overview of the electronic, control, radio frequency, cryogenic, and mechanical works.
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 2
-
Siphelele Blose
Ronnie Nombembe
(
SARAO
)
Radio frequency components and receiver practical - session 2
Siphelele Blose
Ronnie Nombembe
(
SARAO
)
15:00 - 17:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Location: Microwave workshop Content: Continuation of day 1 concluding with test receiver measurements at cryogenic temperatures illustrating gain characterisation through hot/cold sky measurements.
18:00
Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
Antenna Basics + Calibration
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
Antenna Basics + Calibration
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Receiver Exercises
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
Receiver Exercises
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Antenna Exercises
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
Antenna Exercises
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
Receiver basics
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
Receiver basics
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:30
Dinner
Dinner
18:30 - 19:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 25 September 2025
06:45
Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00
VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd)
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd)
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
08:00 - 09:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Shuttling to SANSA with Pool cars
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Shuttling to SANSA with Pool cars
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
10:15 - 10:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:30
SANSA Space Ops visit
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
SANSA Space Ops visit
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
10:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Shuttle fron SANSA with pool cars
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Shuttle fron SANSA with pool cars
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
12:00 - 12:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:15
Lunch
Lunch
12:15 - 13:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:15
VLBI
-
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
VLBI
James Chibueze
(
University of South Africa
)
13:15 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
SETI
SETI
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00
Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Friday, 26 September 2025
08:00
AVN + ARAP (zoom)
-
Carla Mitchell
(
SARAO
)
AVN + ARAP (zoom)
Carla Mitchell
(
SARAO
)
08:00 - 09:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Exact title to be confirmed
09:15
TSun data analysis
-
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
TSun data analysis
Pfesesani van Zyl
(
SARAO
)
09:15 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45
Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15
Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview
-
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview
Roelf Botha
(
SARAO
)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00
Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00
PC setup and linux overview (continued)
PC setup and linux overview (continued)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30
Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00
Wrap-up: week 2
-
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds
)
Wrap-up: week 2
Thomas Scragg
(
University of Leeds
)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 27 September 2025
11:30
Photo shoot, interviews, etc.
Photo shoot, interviews, etc.
11:30 - 12:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:35
Photo Session
Photo Session
13:35 - 15:35
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Sunday, 28 September 2025