Name: DARA training @ Hartebeesthoek - 2026 February
Start: 2026-02-14T08:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-02-28T18:00:00+02:00
Location: SARAO Hartebeesthoek

Monday, 9 February 2026
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Friday, 13 February 2026
Saturday, 14 February 2026
Sunday, 15 February 2026

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

Monday, 16 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: Visitor Centre
08:00 Welcome + Site Safety - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Welcome + Site Safety
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:00 - 08:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:30 Fourier Analysis - Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
Fourier Analysis
- Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
08:30 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: Foyer

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Digital Signal Processing - Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
Digital Signal Processing
- Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
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 - 16:05
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 17 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Introduction to Radio Astronomy - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Introduction to Radio Astronomy
- 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 Basics + Calibration - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Antenna Basics + Calibration
- 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 Antenna Exercises - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Antenna Exercises
- 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
15:00 Receiver Exercises - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Receiver Exercises
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Receiver basics - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Receiver basics
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 18 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

08:00 Intro to RF recievers for RA - Tinus Stander. Add WVR (short)??
Intro to RF recievers for RA - Tinus Stander. Add WVR (short)??
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 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how - Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria) Reuben Neate (University of Pretoria)
Water vapour radiometers: Why, what and how
- Tinus Stander (University of Pretoria)
- Reuben Neate (University of Pretoria)
10:15 - 11:45
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)
Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2
- Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Measuring the brightness temperature of the sun using a DSTV dish
16:30 Radiometer Equation - Ben Stappers (University of Leeds, UK)
Radiometer Equation
- Ben Stappers (University of Leeds, UK)
16:30 - 18:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room Summary of variables in the Radiometer Equation wrt to observational requirements (simpilifed) plus adaption for pulsar observations.
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 19 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

08:00 RA Data calibration - Pfesi
RA Data calibration - Pfesi
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Introduction to Pulsars - Ben Stappers (University of Leeds, UK)
Introduction to Pulsars
- Ben Stappers (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
13:00 Pulsar Observing / Pulsar backend systems - Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
Pulsar Observing / Pulsar backend systems
- Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)
13:00 - 14:30
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
Friday, 20 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Overview of RA to VLBI - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
Overview of RA to VLBI
- 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 VLBI
VLBI
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd) - James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd)
- James Chibueze (University of South Africa)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 VLBI
VLBI
14:30 - 16:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 21 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:30 Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
08:30 - 12:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden You are welcome to do the hiking trail which is 3.5km long and starts at the base of the waterfall on your right hand, facing the waterfall. The garden is open every day from 08:00 – 18:00. No entry after 17:00. I have attached the rules and regulations for the garden. It will assist in planning your visit. Please ensure that you are well prepared for the hiking (comfortable walking shoes, hat, snacks and sufficient water) The hiking trail although short can be strenuous with significant uphill climbs. Please be prepared for potentially slippery surfaces in wet conditions. The normal entrance fees apply when doing the hike. You are welcome to have a picnic afterwards.
13:00 Outing: Cradlestone Mall
Outing: Cradlestone Mall
13:00 - 16:00
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.

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Sunday, 22 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

08:00 Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve
Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve
08:00 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room A day outing to the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve Please refer to: - Their website at: <a href="https://www.rhinolion.co.za/" target="_blank">https://www.rhinolion.co.za/</a> - Phone: +27 011 957 0349 - Email: info@rhinolion.co.za - <a href="https://www.rhinolion.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/VISITOR-GUIDE-WEBSITE-2024.pdf" target="_blank">Visitor guide</a> - <a href="https://www.rhinolion.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/A1-Map-smaller-compressed-1.pdf" target="_blank">Map</a> You will have lunch pack that will go along, so that you may have something to eat through the morning up to lunch, as we miss the normal tea time. We'll have lunch at a restaurant at the reserve at about 14:00. Timetable: 08:10 - Depart Hart at the latest 08:40 Arrive at the reserve, get tickets from ticketing office 09:00 - 12:30 - Predator park, look for other game, Wildlife Centre,Snake & Reptile Park 12:30 Depart to predator feeding area 13:00 Predator feeding 13:30 Time for additional game drive, en route to restaurant 14:00 Lunch 15:45 Depart for Hart

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

13:00 Rhino and Lion Park
Rhino and Lion Park
13:00 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

Monday, 23 February 2026

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 Spectral line reduction - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Spectral line reduction
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Spectral line reduction 2 - Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
Spectral line reduction 2
- Fanie van den Heever (North West University)
13:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
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
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Tuesday, 24 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 Introduction to SETI: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life Landscape - Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
Introduction to SETI: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life Landscape
- Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 COSMIC: commensal SETI processing at the VLA - Ross Donnachie (University of Pretoria)
COSMIC: commensal SETI processing at the VLA
- Ross Donnachie (University of Pretoria)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Introduction to Analysis and TurboSETI & Turbo SETI setup - Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
Introduction to Analysis and TurboSETI & Turbo SETI setup
- Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 1 - Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 1
- Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
16:30 TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 2, Presentations and discussion - Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 2, Presentations and discussion
- Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)
16:30 - 18:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

20:00 Movie night
Movie night
20:00 - 21:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Wednesday, 25 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 TART - Timothy Molteno (University of Otago, Electronics Research Foundation)
TART
- Timothy Molteno (University of Otago, Electronics Research Foundation)
08:00 - 09:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
10:15 Building an Observatory - Philip Mey (SARAO) Pieter Stronkhorst (SARAO HartRAO)
Building an Observatory
- Philip Mey (SARAO)
- Pieter Stronkhorst (SARAO HartRAO)
10:15 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Space Geodesy - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Space Geodesy
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room General background and an overview of what we do at SARAO Hartebeesthoek site
Time and Position from Astronomy - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Time and Position from Astronomy
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
15:00 Workshops practical + tour 1 - WS team - Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
Workshops practical + tour 1 - WS team
- Ronnie Nombembe (SARAO)
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
18:00 Dinner - Braai
Dinner - Braai
18:00 - 20:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Thursday, 26 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
07:45 GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
07:45 - 08:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:30 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)
08:30 - 09:40
Room: VC and Lecture Room Introduce GAMIT/GLOBK for: - Timeseries - PWV
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 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
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
13:00 GNSS exercises
GNSS exercises
13:00 - 14:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

14:30 Tea
Tea
14:30 - 15:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

15:00 Workshops Practical + tour 2 - Workshop team
Workshops Practical + tour 2 - Workshop team
15:00 - 16:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room

18:00 Dinner (self Braai)
Dinner (self Braai)
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

20:00 Movie night
Movie night
20:00 - 21:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Friday, 27 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room
08:00 AVN + ARAP (zoom) - Carla Mitchell (SARAO)
AVN + ARAP (zoom)
- Carla Mitchell (SARAO)
08:00 - 09:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room https://ska.zoom.us/j/93855257313?jst=4
09:00 Tour of GNSS and Seismic vault - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Tour of GNSS and Seismic vault
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
09:00 - 10:25
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Ubuntu installation, PC Setup and Linux overview
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
09:00 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room ASBRU-CM ----------------- curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/asbru-cm/release/cfg/setup/bash.deb.sh' | sudo -E bash sudo apt-get install asbru-cm
09:45 Tea
Tea
09:45 - 10:15
Room: VC and Lecture Room
11:00 Virtual machines and shared Data folder - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
Virtual machines and shared Data folder
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
11:00 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room QEMU/KVM + Linuxmint Xfce Data drive / folder shared between host and client
12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
13:00 Radio Astronomy principles in Remote Sensing - Andile H Fani (SARAO)
Radio Astronomy principles in Remote Sensing
- Andile H Fani (SARAO)
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
16:30 (Optional) Ubuntu installation - Roelf Botha (SARAO)
(Optional) Ubuntu installation
- Roelf Botha (SARAO)
16:30 - 17:30
Room: VC and Lecture Room If time + energy allows...
18:00 Dinner
Dinner
18:00 - 19:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room
Saturday, 28 February 2026

06:45 Breakfast
Breakfast
06:45 - 07:45
Room: VC and Lecture Room

11:35 Check-out: please returm all keys, power adapters, dongles and torches
Check-out: please returm all keys, power adapters, dongles and torches
11:35 - 12:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

12:00 Lunch
Lunch
12:00 - 13:00
Room: VC and Lecture Room

13:00 Trainees Shuttle depart Sat 27th @ 13:00
Trainees Shuttle depart Sat 27th @ 13:00
13:00 - 13:20
Room: VC and Lecture Room