DARA training @ Hartebeesthoek - 2026 September

13 Sept 2026, 04:30 → 27 Sept 2026, 18:00 Africa/Johannesburg

VC and Lecture Room (SARAO Hartebeesthoek)

Andile H Fani (SARAO), Roelf Botha (SARAO)

SARAO Indemnity and restrictions for DARA training.pdf

Sunday 13 September

16:30 Arrival at OR Tambo

18:00 Dinner

Monday 14 September

06:45 Breakfast

BREAKFAST

1 Opening, SHEQ, Overview

Speakers: Lungelo Gumede, Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO), Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds), Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)

1.1 DARA_at_Hart_Intro_2026.pdf

DARA SHEQ Induction 2026.pdf

09:45 Tea

2 Time and Position from Astronomy

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

Geodesy - determining time and position with the help of Astronomy.pdf

Longitude_problem_by_GilesMcMullen.mp4

Sidereal_vs_Solar_Day_by_curiousmbi.mp4

Space Geodesy - a brief overview.pdf

Space Geodesy pt2 - the interactive sciences of SG and Astronomy.pdf

3 Time and position, Space Geodesy

General background and an overview of what we do at SARAO Hartebeesthoek site

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

Antarctic ice loss 2002-2016 - YouTube.MP4

Hyperwall Greenland Ice Loss 2002-2016.mp4

11:45 Lunch

4 SARAO Africa Programme and Africa to the moon - Carla

https://ska.zoom.us/j/96502309853?jst=4

Speaker: Carla Mitchell (SARAO)

DARA_ARAP Overview_A2M Overview_Sept 2026.pdf

5 GNSS - basic principles and RINEX data format

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

GBGB00NAM_R_20233310000_01D_01S.crx.zip

GNSS Overview and RINEX.pdf

VPS100ZAF_R_20233380000_01D_30S.crx.zip

14:30 Tea Break

6 Site Tour 1 - Roelf

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

7 Linux

18:00 Dinner

Tuesday 15 September

06:45 Breakfast

8 GNSS processing with GAMIT/GLOBK

Introduce GAMIT/GLOBK for:
- Timeseries
- PWV

Speakers: Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy), Slindile Nyide (SARAO)

13-sh_gamit.pdf

gamit-globk-workflow_basics.pdf

Lecture1_Intro_GNSS_GAMIT_GLOBK.pdf

Lecture2_PWV_Processing_GAMIT_GLOBK.pdf

09:45 Tea

9 PWV processing intro, GNSS processing

Speakers: Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy), Slindile Nyide (SARAO)

11:45 Lunch

10 GNSS PWV processing practical

Speakers: Nkululeko Qwabe (SARAO - Geodesy), Slindile Nyide (SARAO)

11 Geodesy's remote station network

Speaker: Bongani Ngcobo (NRF/SARAO)

HWDARA_BL.pdf

14:30 Tea

12 Geo HW (45mins), tour RA - Roelf Linux Intro

13 Virtual machines and shared Data folder

QEMU/KVM + Linuxmint Xfce
Data drive / folder shared between host and client

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

Virtualisation Overview and demonstration.pdf

VMs_and_shared_data.txt

14 Linux (continued)

Linux-notes-RB.txt

18:00 Dinner

19:00 Movie

Wednesday 16 September

06:45 Breakfast

15 Intro to RF recievers for RA - Tinus Stander. Add WVR (short)??

RF principles 2026.pdf

09:45 Tea

16 Introduction to Radio Astronomy

Speaker: James Chibueze (University of South Africa)

ISYA2024 _radio_astronomy_RAD1.pdf

11:45 Lunch

17 Receiver basics

Speaker: James Chibueze (University of South Africa)

RF principles.pdf

14:30 Tea

18 VLBI Fundamentals / Radiometer equation (tbd)

Speaker: James Chibueze (University of South Africa)

1 MFB_VLBI_Fundamentals_2021d_print.pdf

1 VLBI Fundamentals.mp4

19 Social / Games

18:00 Dinner

Thursday 17 September

06:45 Breakfast

20 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

Speaker: Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)

DARA_RFI_Examples_HartRAO20241107.pdf

DARA_RFI_Examples_HartRAO20241107.pdf

Direct Youtube link for RFI Video

RFI_Jonas.mp4

21 Radiometer Equation

Summary of variables in the Radiometer Equation wrt to observational requirements (simpilifed) plus adaption for pulsar observations.

Speakers: Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK), Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds)

DARARadiometerEquation_HartRAO20260917.pdf

DARARadiometerEquation_HartRAO20260917.pdf

09:45 Tea

22 SANSA Space Ops visit

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

11:45 Lunch

23 Introduction to Pulsars

Speakers: Ben Stappers (University of Leeds, UK), Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds)

DARAPulsarIntroduction_20260917.pdf

DARAPulsarIntroduction_20260917.pdf

14:30 Tea

24 Brightness Temperature of the Sun 2

Measuring the brightness temperature of the
sun using a DSTV dish

Speaker: Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)

25 Brightness temperature of the sun 1

Calibrating a small Radio Telescope

Speaker: Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)

AVN 2026.zip

AVN brightness temperature of the sun tutorial - Jupyter Notebook.pdf

DARA online notes - Temperature brightness

26 Caibration of RA data - theory + exercise

Speaker: Pfesesani van Zyl (SARAO)

Continuum.zip

DARA online notes - Continuum

27 RA Data calibration - Pfesi

pfesi

18:00 Dinner

19:00 Movie Night

Friday 18 September

06:45 Breakfast

28 Fourier Analysis

Speaker: Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))

1 DARA_Training_Introduction_to_DSP.pdf

2 DARA_Training_DSP_Theory_and_Applications_with_Examples.pdf

3 DARA_Training_The_Fourier_Transform.pdf

3 DARA_Training_The_Fourier_Transform.pdf

DARA_Training___The_Fourier_Transform.pdf

Dara_Training_Practical.pdf

09:45 Tea

29 Digital Signal Processing

Speaker: Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))

1 DARA_Training_Introduction_to_DSP.pdf

DARA_Training___DSP_Theory_and_Applications_with_Examples.pdf

DARA_Training___Introduction_to_DSP.pdf

11:45 Lunch

30 Fourier and DSP Exercises

Speaker: Heystek Grobler (North-West University (NWU))

2 DARA_Training_DSP_Theory_and_Applications_with_Examples.pdf

Dara_Training_Practical.pdf

Exercises_Examples_2026.pdf

14:30 Tea

31 Building an Observatory

Speaker: Pieter Stronkhorst (SARAO HartRAO)

32 Week 1 wrap-up + feedback

Speakers: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO), Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)

18:00 Dinner - Prepared Braai

Saturday 19 September

06:45 Breakfast

33 Outing: Drive to a nature reserve, hike

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.

Speaker: Dr Roelf Botha (SARAO)

WSNBG Rules and regulations full list 17 April 2024.pdf

11:30 Lunch at Botanical Gardens

34 Outing: Cradlestone Mall

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

Sunday 20 September

06:45 Breakfast

Breakfast and collect lunch packs

35 Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve

A day outing to the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve

Please refer to:
- Their website at: https://www.rhinolion.co.za/
- Phone: +27 011 957 0349
- Email: info@rhinolion.co.za
- Visitor guide
- Map

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 at Reserve

36 Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve

A day outing to the Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature reserve

Please refer to:
- Their website at: https://www.rhinolion.co.za/
- Phone: +27 011 957 0349
- Email: info@rhinolion.co.za
- Visitor guide
- Map

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

18:00 Dinner

Monday 21 September

06:45 Breakfast

37 Data collection with 26m dish

Speaker: Fanie van den Heever (North West University)

38 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

Speaker: Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)

09:45 Tea

39 Masers

Speaker: Fanie van den Heever (North West University)

Star_formation_and_Masers.pdf

11:45 Lunch

40 Spectral line reduction

Speaker: Fanie van den Heever (North West University)

G009.62+0.20.tar.gz

HartRAO_spectroscopy_software.pdf

Scripts.zip

41 Spectral line reduction 2

Speaker: Fanie van den Heever (North West University)

HartSpec.tar.gz

PSS.zip

Setting up HartSpec.pdf

14:30 Tea

42 Workshops Practical + tour 1 - Workshop team

18:00 Dinner

Tuesday 22 September

06:45 Breakfast

43 COSMIC: commensal SETI processing at the VLA

Speaker: Ross Donnachie (University of Pretoria)

DARA2025-SETI-CommensalProcessing.pdf

09:45 Tea

44 Introduction to SETI: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life Landscape

Speaker: Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)

SETI_DARA_TRAINING [Autosaved].pptx

SETI_DARA_TRAINING.pdf

SETI_DARA_TRAINING.pdf

SETI_DARA_TRAINING_Ramiro.pdf

SETI_TRAINING.ipynb

11:45 Lunch

45 Introduction to Analysis and TurboSETI & Turbo SETI setup

Speaker: Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)

data-SETI.zip

SETI_TRAINING.ipynb

46 SETI + AI Ramiro and Ross

CNN_handson_run_fast.ipynb

requirements-cnn_handson.txt

47 TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 1

Speaker: Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)

14:30 Tea

48 Workshops Practical + tour 2 - Workshop team

49 TART

https://ska.zoom.us/j/96541451640?jst=4

Speaker: Dr Oleg Smirnov (SARAO)

tart_overview.pdf

50 TurboSETI - Analysis with real data Part 2, Presentations and discussion

Speaker: Ramiro Saide (University of Manchester)

18:00 Dinner

Wednesday 23 September

06:45 Breakfast

51 Outing to Wits: Origins centre and Digital Dome

08:15 - 09:45 Travel to Wits - drop off at Wits Origins centre
11:00 - 11:45 Geology Museum, walk to Dome
11:45 - 12:30 Lunch Packs - Space to eat is available
12:30 - 13:30 Dome Show: "Journey to the Stars"
13:30 - 14:00 Astronomy Beyond the Basics
14:00 - 15:00 Wits Astronomy Seminar at the Digital Dome. Speakers:

• Dr Geoff Beck - Can a MeerKAT Spot Dark Matter?
• Dr Anton Dmytriiev - Messengers from the Extreme Universe
• Dr Tanita Ramburuth - Metals across cosmic time
• Dr Dakalo Phuravhathu - The MeerKAT Massive Distant Clusters Survey:
  Diffuse Radio Emission in Galaxy Clusters at 𝑧 > 1

15:00 - 16:00 Refreshments & Networking
16:00 - 17:30 Return to Hart

18:00 Dinner

23:45 Lunch packs

Thursday 24 September

06:45 Breakfast

52 Introduction to Radio Astronomy

Speaker: John McKean (University of Pretoria)

mckean_dara.pdf

09:45 Tea

53 VLBI

11:45 Lunch

54 Interferometry

Placeholder, will confirm exact details shortly

Speaker: John McKean (University of Pretoria)

14:30 Tea

55 VLBI

56 Social / Games

18:00 Dinner - Braai

57 Movie night

Friday 25 September

06:45 Breakfast

58 Pulsar Observing / Pulsar backend systems

Speaker: Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds, UK)

DARAHartRAO_Pulsar_Backend_Systems20241113.pdf

09:45 Tea

AVN journey and current Research: AVN journey and current research Namakau

ANV_DARA -checkpoint.ipynb

Namakau_DARA.zip

Screenshot from 2026-09-21 20-22-52.png

Screenshot from 2026-09-21 20-52-49.png

UV Coverage plots exercise-checkpoint.ipynb

UV Coverage plots exercise.ipynb

59 Atmospheric Monitoring by Slindile

60 Radio Astronomy principles in Remote Sensing

Speaker: Andile H Fani (SARAO)

andile.pdf

Downloading Ubuntu.pdf

11:45 Lunch

61 Pulsar Update

https://ska.zoom.us/j/97885380111 Zoom session

Speaker: Benjamin Stappers (University of Manchester)

62 Photo shoot, interviews, etc.

14:30 Tea

63 Wrap-up: week 2

Speaker: Thomas Scragg (University of Leeds)

64 Slindile Nyide

Slindile_nyide_DARA.mp4

18:00 Dinner (self Braai)

Saturday 26 September

06:45 Breakfast

09:45 Tea

65 Check-out: please returm all keys, power adapters, dongles and torches

12:00 Lunch

14:30 Tea

18:00 Dinner

Sunday 27 September

06:45 Breakfast

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Trainees Shuttle depart Sat 27th @ 13:00