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1420 MHz · Hydrogen line radio astronomy

RADIO TELESCOPES FOR RADIO ASTRONOMY

Turn-key instruments for schools, universities, planetariums and research institutes. Observe the 21 cm hydrogen line in daylight, under cloud, at any time of the day.

A SPIDER radio telescope is a complete instrument, specifically developed as a professional but compact radio telescope, not a set of parts. Antenna, low noise amplifiers, 1420 MHz receiver, spectrometer, tracking system and control software arrive as one system, tested in our factory before it ships. We design and manufacture everything in Italy, and we install it on your site.

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2.3 – 5 m antenna diameter, 1024 Spectrometer channels, 40+ Installed worldwide

SPIDER 300A MarkII radio telescope with 3 meter mesh antenna installed on a concrete base

SPIDER radio telescopes installations:

SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope at the Department of Physics “E. Fermi” of the University of Pisa (Italy)
SPIDER 300A MarkII radio telescope installed in PL Space Center at Polo Tecnologico Alto Adriatico technology center
SPIDER 500A MarkII radio telescope installed in Planetarium – Silesian Science Park (Poland)
SPIDER 300A radio telescope installed in Ruhr-University Bochum (Germany)
SPIDER 300A radio telescope installed at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USA)
SPIDER 500A radio telescope installed in Eton College, UK
SPIDER 300A at Etscorn Observatory (New Mexico Tech university) near VLA upgraded with Radio-over-Fiber kit
SPIDER 300A radio telescope for radio astronomy installed near Prague in Czech Republic
SPIDER 300A installed near Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT)
SPIDER 500A installed in Kielder Observatory (UK)
Upgraded SPIDER 300A radio telescope in Medicina radio telescopes Visitor Center

SPIDER radio telescopes for radio astronomy

THREE RADIO TELESCOPES, ONE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

All three SPIDER models share the same receiver chain, the same RadioUniversePRO control software and the same weatherproof tracking system. What changes is collecting area. A larger antenna detects weaker sources and separates detail that a smaller one blends together. Main features:

  • Prime focus antenna with special designed front and rear supports.
  • 1420 MHz optimised feed and 2 LNAs for LHCP and RHCP circular polarisation.
  • Antenna tracking system with automatic slewing and tracking of objects (except “SPIDER 230C kit without mount”).
  • High load capacity pier for concrete base (except “SPIDER 230C kit without mount”).
  • H142-PRO 1420 MHz radio astronomy receiver, radiometer and spectrometer.
  • RadioUniversePRO control and acquisition software.

SPIDER radio telescopes for radio astronomy are available in diameters from 2.3 meters to 5 meters, offering various types of antenna tracking systems with high precision and load capacity. SPIDER radio telescopes for radio astronomy come with a special 1420 MHz receiver and a full remote control and acquisition software.

SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope, kit without mount
SPIDER Radio Telescopes

SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope, kit without mount

SPIDER230C-KIT
Price starts at
$19,450.00
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SPIDER 230C is the compact radio telescope that opens the door for anyone to explore the fascinating world of radio astronomy with an affordable, turn-key solution. Designed to be powerful but portable and user-friendly, it bridges the gap between radio astronomy and amateur astronomy technologies.  Built with innovation and our patented technology, the...
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SPIDER 300A MarkII advanced radio telescope
SPIDER Radio Telescopes

SPIDER 300A MarkII advanced radio telescope

SPIDER300A
Price starts at
$48,750.00
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SPIDER 300A MarkII is the most advanced 3 meter diameter radio telescope for 1420 MHz radio astronomy designed to let schools, universities, scientific museums and other educational institutes own a powerful and affordable instrument! Designed with advanced features usually found only in large professional radio telescopes, and by including all you need...
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SPIDER 500A MarkII professional radio telescope
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SPIDER Radio Telescopes

SPIDER 500A MarkII professional radio telescope

SPIDER500A
Price starts at
$109,750.00
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SPIDER 500A MarkII is the 5 meter diameter professional radio telescope designed to make 1420 MHz level radio astronomy accessible to everyone: universities, science institutes and museums or space agencies. It offers a large 5 meter diameter antenna to detect weaker signals with a better resolution, the large GS-400II tracking system that provides very...
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Not sure which aperture you need? Compare the three SPIDER radio telescopes side by side.

Teaching and research programmes

WHAT STUDENTS AND RESEARCHERS ACTUALLY MEASURE

A radio telescope is bought for the observations it makes possible. These are the four programmes every SPIDER owner runs.

The 21 cm hydrogen line

Neutral hydrogen emits at 1420.406 MHz. Point the antenna at the galactic plane and the peak appears on screen in seconds. It is the clearest introduction to spectroscopy a student can have, because the physics is visible in the shape of the line.

Continuum radio sources and flux calibration

Detect Cassiopeia A, Cygnus A and the Sun through cross scans and transits. With the NSGen-II noise generator you can calculate flux of the source in Jansky, so the measurement is absolute and comparable with published values.

The rotation curve of the Milky Way

Record hydrogen spectra at different galactic longitudes and read the Doppler shift of each peak. From those velocities a class reconstructs how our galaxy rotates, and finds the evidence that led astronomers to dark matter. This is a full laboratory course from one instrument.

Radio maps of the sky

Raster scan a region and RadioUniversePRO builds a radio map of an area your students cannot see with any optical telescope. It is the moment the invisible sky becomes an image they made themselves.

RadioUniversePRO software with Hydrogen line at 1420 MHz.

RADIO ASTRONOMY WORKS ALSO WHEN OPTICAL ASTRONOMY CANNOT

An optical telescope needs a clear, dark night. That is the single biggest problem for a school or a university department, because lessons happen during the day and the weather does not follow the timetable.

At 1420 MHz the sky behaves differently. The Sun does not blind the receiver, clouds are transparent, and rain is not a limitation. A class can point the antenna at 11 in the morning and record a hydrogen line spectrum before the bell. The same instrument runs unattended at night for a research programme.

This is why radio astronomy has become the practical way to give students real observations instead of archive data. They point the telescope, they collect the signal, they reduce the measurement themselves.

How a project runs

FROM FIRST ENQUIRY TO FIRST SPECTRUM

01: Site location and quotation

Tell us where the antenna will stand, how far the control room is and what your programme needs. We review interference conditions, cable runs and foundation requirements, then quote the configuration that fits. We supply the technical documentation your procurement office needs to open the file.

02: Manufacturing and delivery

Every SPIDER is assembled and tested in our factory in Italy, before it ships. Crates are prepared for your destination and we handle documentation for worldwide delivery. Typical lead time is from 1 to 4 months from order.

03: Installation, alignment and training

Our technicians assemble the antenna, prepare the control room, align the instrument on known sky radio sources and train your staff on RadioUniversePRO before leaving. If you prefer to install it yourself (only for SPIDER 230C and 300A), the manual and our remote support cover the full procedure.

SPIDER 500A radio telescope installation

System options

EXTEND THE SYSTEM WITH ACCESSORIES FOR SPIDER RADIO TELESCOPES

RADIO OVER FIBER: Replaces coaxial cable between amplifier and receiver, removing gain loss over distance and reducing interference.

MOUNT OVER FIBER: Controls the tracking system up to 2 km away over dedicated optical fiber.

NSGen-II NOISE GENERATOR: For absolute calibration, so you can calculate source flux in Jansky.

WIND SENSOR: Parks the antenna at zenith automatically when wind exceeds the safety threshold.

RK19 RACK, 24 UNITS: Houses receiver, control units and computer with power distribution and temperature controlled fans.

CMP-19 CONTROL COMPUTER: Rack format computer running RadioUniversePRO, same form factor as the rest of the chain.

Browse all accessories for radio telescopes.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RADIO TELESCOPES AND RADIO ASTRONOMY?

Radio astronomy: Introduction to invisible sky

Written by Filippo Bradaschia, co-founder of PrimaLuceLab. 192 pages that explain how radio telescopes work, what the sky looks like in radio waves, and why some of the most interesting objects in the universe are invisible to an optical telescope. It covers electromagnetic waves, how a radio telescope receives them, the radio sources of the universe, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the radio phenomena of our own atmosphere. Explained with illustrations and pictures, and without complicated formulas. It is the best place to start if you are preparing a course, writing a thesis proposal, or simply deciding whether radio astronomy belongs in your institute.

GET THE BOOK
Book Radio astronomy: Introduction to invisible sky

RADIO TELESCOPE QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED MOST

How much does a radio telescope cost?
A complete SPIDER system starts at around $19,450 for the 2.3 meter SPIDER 230C and reaches around $109,750 for the 5 meter SPIDER 500A MarkII. The final figure depends on accessories you select and whether you include installation and training. We issue a written quotation you can attach to a funding application.
Can a radio telescope observe during the day?
Yes. At 1420 MHz daylight is not a limitation, so a class can observe during normal school hours. The Sun itself becomes one of the sources you can measure.
Does rain or cloud stop radio astronomy observations?
No. Clouds are transparent at these frequencies and rain is not a limitation for hydrogen line work. This is one of the main practical reasons institutions choose a radio telescope over an optical one for a teaching programme.
Do we need a concrete foundation?
The SPIDER 300A MarkII and 500A MarkII are installed on a concrete base. The SPIDER 230C can be installed on a lighter base or on an existing heavy duty mount, which makes it suitable for temporary sites.
Can the radio telescope be controlled remotely?
Yes. RadioUniversePRO controls the instrument over the network, and the Mount over Fiber option extends control up to 2 km from the antenna. Many of our installations are operated from a classroom or an office in a different building.
What is the hydrogen line and why 1420 MHz?
Neutral hydrogen atoms emit radiation at 1420.406 MHz, a wavelength of 21 cm. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, so this single frequency maps the structure and motion of our galaxy. It is the foundation of almost every radio astronomy programme, and every SPIDER is built around it.
Do you provide training for our staff?
Yes. Installation includes a training session on the instrument and on RadioUniversePRO. We are also able to support your team remotely afterwards.
Can we buy a radio telescope with public or grant funding?
Many of our educational and research customers do. We provide the quotation, technical specifications and supplier documentation required by procurement offices and funding bodies, and we can advise on the programmes other institutions in your country have used.

Request a quote

REQUEST A QUOTE FOR YOUR RADIO TELESCOPE

Every installation is different, so we quote after we understand your site and your programme. Tell us where the antenna would stand, how far the control room is and what you want to observe.

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Prefer to talk first? Call +39 0434 1696106 or write to our radio astronomy team.

SPIDER 500A radio telescope with 5 meter mesh antenna installed on a concrete base