Fundamentals of Single Dish Radio Astronomy

The documents and videos in this section have been compiled from previous Green Bank Observatory training workshops. They are an introduction to radio astronomy science and observing techniques and are widely applicable to any radio telescope. A more complete listing of radio astronomy science and techniques talks can be found below under “Videos from Previous GBT Training Workshops.”

Introduction to Radio Astronomy Science – Video – Jay Lockman
Radio Telescope Fundamentals – Video – PDF – Frank Ghigo
Observing Techniques – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout
Tracing the Signal – Video – PDF – David Frayer

Green Bank Telescope Training Videos

The documents and videos in this section walk you through preparing for and conducting observations with the Green Bank Telescope. Your “project friend” will help you access the Green Bank computer system and join you for your first observing sessions. Please contact the project friend listed on your GBT disposition letter to begin the training process.

The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – Ryan Lynch and Toney Minter

Remote Connections

Observations should be conducted on the Titania or Ariel computers. These computers should not be used for data processing. For data processing, you can use Fourier, Arcturus, Planck, or Euclid. If you do not have login credentials, please contact your GBT “project friend.” Titania and Ariel should only be used by active observers controlling the telescope.

We suggest observers connect to the Green Bank System via FastX. It is also possible to connect to Green Bank via a VNC connection.

Astrid

Astrid – Intro to Scheduling Blocks

• What is a Scheduling Block and How to Open it
• Resources for Writing a Scheduling Block
• Configuration Files
• Catalog Files
• When and How to Configure your Files
• Auto Functions

Opening Astrid and Using Real-time Modes

Astrid – Observation Management

• Manipulating Windows, Accessing your Project, Saving and Validating Scripts
• Observation Management Log
• Observation State
• Running Subtabs
• Queue Control and Observation Control

Astrid – Data Display Tab

• Generally Examining Data
• Data Display Log & Pointing Subtab
• Focus Subtab
• OOF
• Continuum Tab and Spectral Line Tab
• Astrid – Status Tab and Command Console
• Astrid – Drop down Menus

Cleo

• Cleo – Opening and Using Cleo Container

Cleo Observer Tools

• Scheduler Skyview – Intro & Interface
• Scheduler Skyview -Catalogs & Sources
• Scheduler Skyview -Schedule & Real-time Modes
• Talk and Draw
• Weather Forecast Tool & spectral Line Config Tool
• Cleo – Weather Tool Status & Messages Tab
• Cleo – Vegas Overview
• Cleo – Vegas Power Monitor

Mustang

Mustang 2 Startup and Observation Training

Videos from Previous GBT Training Workshops

February 2023 Training School Presentations

Welcome to Green Bank – PDF – Will Armentrout
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – David Frayer (Pre-Recorded)
Astrid & CLEO – Video – Brenne Gregory & Evan Smith
Green Bank Computing Environment – Video – PDF – Larry Morgan
Spectral Line Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Pedro Salas (Pre-Recorded)
Pulsar Observing – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Pulsar Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Command List – Ryan Lynch
GBT Public Relations – Video – PDF – Jill Malusky
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Emily Moravec
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – PDF – Toney Minter
How to Prepare and Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – PDF – Jesse Bublitz
Frequently Asked Questions – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout

February 2022 Training School Presentations

Welcome to Green Bank – Video – PDF – Jim Jackson & Will Armentrout
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – David Frayer
Astrid & CLEO – Video – Amber Bonsall and Brenne Gregory
Green Bank Computing Environment – Video – PDF – Larry Morgan (recorded)
Spectral Line Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Pedro Salas
Pulsar Data Reduction – PDF – Ryan Lynch
The Role of Large Single Dishes in VLBI – Video – PDF – Tapasi Ghosh
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Emily Moravec
GBT Public Relations – Video – PDF – Jill Malusky
How to Prepare and Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – PDF – Jesse Bublitz
Frequently Asked Questions – Video – PDF – Amber Pisano & Andrew Seymour

September 2021 GBO/AO Single Dish Observing School

Welcome – Video – PDF – Anish Roshi, Karen O’Neil, & Will Armentrout
Why Single Dish Radio Telescopes? – Video – PDF – Chris Salter
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout
Radiation Fundamentals I – Video – PDF – Anish Roshi
Radiation Fundamentals II – Video – PDF – Ben Perera
The GBO 20-Meter Telescope – Video – PDF – Brenne Gregory
The History and Future of Radio Astronomy – Video – PDF – Jay Lockman
Radio Telescope Fundamentals I – Video – PDF – PK Manoharan
Radio Telescope Fundamentals II – Video – PDF – Andrew Seymour
Frontends (Cryogenic Receiver Technology) – Video – PDF – Steve White
Tracing the Signal – Video – PDF – David Frayer
Signal Processing Basics and Spectrometers – Video – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Combining Data from Single Dishes & Interferometers – Video – PDF – Tapasi Ghosh
Radar Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Anna McGilvray
Radar Observing – Video – PDF – Maxime Devogele
RFI and How to Live With It – Video – PDF – Toney Minter
The Role of Large Single Dishes in VLBI – Video – PDF – Sravani Vaddi
A Stroll Through Radio Astronomy – Video – Jay Lockman

September 2021 Training School Presentations

Introduction to Astrid & CLEO – Video – Brenne Gregory
GBO Computing Environment – PDF – Larry Morgan
Spectral Line & Continuum Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Pedro Salas
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – Toney Minter
How to Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – Jesse Bublitz

July 2021 Proposal Training Workshop

Video – Overview of GBT Science, and GBT Capabilities, Proposal Submission Tool, Sensitivity Calculator, Mapping Calculator, Helpdesk, tips for a good proposal, and additional discussion

May 2021 Training School Presentations

Welcome to Green Bank – Video – PDF – Karen O’Neil & Will Armentrout
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – David Frayer
Astrid & CLEO – Video – Amber Bonsall and Brenne Gregory
Remote Observing – Video – PDF – Andrew Seymour
Green Bank Computing Environment – Video – PDF – Larry Morgan
Pulsar Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Andrew Seymour
Pulsar Observing – PDF – Brenne Gregory
Spectral Line Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Pedro Salas
The Role of Large Single Dishes in VLBI – Video – PDF – Tapasi Ghosh
GBT Public Relations – Video – PDF – Jill Malusky
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Natalie Butterfield
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – PDF – Toney Minter (recorded)
How to Prepare and Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – PDF – Will Armentrout
Frequently Asked Questions – Video – PDF – Amber Bonsall and Jesse Bublitz

February 2021 Training School Presentations

Welcome to Green Bank – Video – PDF – Karen O’Neil & Will Armentrout
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – David Frayer
Astrid & CLEO – Video – Amber Bonsall and Brenne Gregory
Green Bank Computing System – Video – PDF – Larry Morgan
Remote Observing – Video – Andrew Seymour
The Role of Large Single Dishes in VLBI – Video – PDF – Tapasi Ghosh
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Natalie Butterfield
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – PDF – Toney Minter
How to Prepare and Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Frequently Asked Questions – Video – PDF – Amber Bonsall and Jesse Bublitz
Pulsar Observing – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Pulsar Data Reduction – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Spectral Line Data Reduction – Video – PDF – Pedro Salas
High Frequency Demonstration – Video – PDF – David Frayer

October 2020 Training School Presentations

The documents and videos in this section are from the October 13-14, 2020 Training School. They include details on how to use the command interface of the GBT, remote observing, and details on more specific observing modes.

Welcome to Green Bank – Video – PDF – Karen O’Neil & Will Armentrout
The Green Bank Telescope – Video – PDF – David Frayer
Astrid – Video – Larry Morgan
CLEO – Video – Amber Bonsall
Remote Observing – Video – Andrew Seymour
The Role of Large Single Dishes in VLBI – Video – PDF – Tapasi Ghosh
High Frequency GBT Corrections – Video – PDF – Natalie Butterfield
GBT Dynamic Scheduling System – Video – PDF – Toney Minter
How to Prepare and Submit a GBT Proposal – Video – PDF – Ryan Lynch
Frequently Asked Questions – Video – PDF – Amber Bonsall and Will Armentrout
Pulsar Observing – PDF – PDF – Ryan Lynch

2019 Single Dish Summer School

Presentations for the 2019 Single Dish Summer School (SDSS) which includes background material in radio astronomy and the GBT and Arecibo telescopes are located here: SDSS2019.