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Quiet Skies ProjectQuiet Skies Project

Sue Ann Heatherly, Ron Maddalena

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

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Why Dark Skies/Quiet Skies?Why Dark Skies/Quiet Skies?Optical and radio astronomy can be done Optical and radio astronomy can be done

from the ground!from the ground!

Credit: Windows to the Universe, thence to NASA/STSCI/JHU

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Green Bank TelescopeGreen Bank TelescopeVery Large ArrayVery Large Array

Very Long Baseline ArrayVery Long Baseline ArrayAtacama Large Millimeter ArrayAtacama Large Millimeter Array

NRAO TelescopesNRAO Telescopes

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Why quiet skies?Why quiet skies?

0.000000000000000000000000010.00000000000000000000000001

watts/mwatts/m22/Hz/Hz

7http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html

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Quiet Skies Project and IYAQuiet Skies Project and IYA

1.1. ConductConduct “Be an Interference Detective” “Be an Interference Detective” Activity in your museum, school, scout Activity in your museum, school, scout meeting AM Radio Scavenger Hunt of meeting AM Radio Scavenger Hunt of any interior space. any interior space.

Can be “Try it at Home”, or guided activity. Can be “Try it at Home”, or guided activity. Limited to AM Frequencies.Limited to AM Frequencies.

How Can You Get Involved?How Can You Get Involved?

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2.2. Measure RFI in your communities using Laptop Measure RFI in your communities using Laptop and Xirrus widgetand Xirrus widget

Download free widget and install.Download free widget and install. Measure RFI from wireless hotspots!Measure RFI from wireless hotspots!

www.www.xirrusxirrus.com/library/.com/library/wifiwifitools.phptools.php

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3.3.Borrow Quiet Skies KitsBorrow Quiet Skies Kits::Sensitive instrument which Sensitive instrument which

detects RFI at 800-1700 detects RFI at 800-1700 MHz (scientifically MHz (scientifically interesting).interesting).

Loan Program: 20 Loan Program: 20 units in the US, units in the US, each unit forwarded each unit forwarded to 10-20 locations to 10-20 locations throughout IYA.throughout IYA.

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Measurements Measurements reported to reported to NRAO NRAO data basedata base resulting in…resulting in…

the radio version of…the radio version of…

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