Pierre Kauffman Radio Observatory (Portuguese: Rádio Observatório Pierre Kauffman - ROPK), formerly known as the Itapetinga Radio Observatory
(Portuguese: Rádio Observatório de Itapetinga - ROI), is a
radio observatory located in the municipality of
Atibaia in the
state
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
of
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
. It is located approximately south of Atibaia and north of
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
. ROI was founded in 1970 by
Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (UPM).
Control of the facility was passed to the
National Institute for Space Research
The National Institute for Space Research (, INPE) is a research unit of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Brazil), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations, the main goals of which are fostering scientific r ...
(INPE) in 1982.
Today it is managed jointly by INPE, UPM,
University do Vale do Paraíba (Univap),
Universidade de São Paulo (USP), and
Universidade Federal de Itajubá (UNIFEI).
In addition to the telescopes, the observatory has living quarters for visiting scientists. ROI is located inside a small
radio quiet zone
A radio quiet zone is an area where radio transmissions are restricted in order to protect a radio telescope or a communications station from radio frequency interference. The Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) d ...
.
It was renamed in 2016 after
Pierre Kauffman.
Telescopes
* A
dish antenna
A parabolic antenna is an antenna that uses a parabolic reflector, a curved surface with the cross-sectional shape of a parabola, to direct the radio waves. The most common form is shaped like a dish and is popularly called a dish antenna or p ...
was completed in 1974. It is housed in a
radome
A radome (a portmanteau of "radar" and "dome") is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a radar antenna (radio), antenna. The radome is constructed of material transparent to radio waves. Radomes protect the antenna from weathe ...
which was replaced in 1990. It observes in bands from 18 GHz to 26 GHz and 40 GHz to 50 GHz simultaneously.
It is used for both astronomical and solar observations.
* The Solar Patrol Equipment (Portuguese: Equipamento de Patrulhamento Solar - SPUA) is an array of dish antennas on a common mount. It monitors the intensity and linear polarization of radio waves from the Sun at 12 GHz.
* The Solar Radio Polarimeter (Portuguese: Rádio Polarímetro Solar - RaPoSo) is a antenna with two low-noise receivers centered at 7 GHz. It monitors the intensity and
circular polarization
In electrodynamics, circular polarization of an electromagnetic wave is a polarization state in which, at each point, the electromagnetic field of the wave has a constant magnitude and is rotating at a constant rate in a plane perpendicular to ...
of radio waves from the Sun.
It was originally located at UPM's defunct Umuarama Radio Observatory near
Campos do Jordão
Campos do Jordão () is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte. The population is 52,405 (2020 est.) in an area of . The city is situated above ...
and is the oldest telescope at ROI.
See also
*
Pico dos Dias Observatory
*
Brazilian Decimetric Array
*
List of astronomical observatories
This is a partial list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no lon ...
*
List of radio telescopes
References
{{Portal bar, Brazil, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science
Astronomical observatories in Brazil
Buildings and structures in São Paulo (state)
Radio telescopes