Istituto
Nazionale di AstroFisica
ISTITUTO DI RADIOASTRONOMIA
RADIO TELESCOPES
The IRA
operates three radio telescope facilities for use by the
scientific community: the "Northern Cross
Radiotelescope", located in Medicina, and two 32-m
single dish antennas located in Medicina and Noto
(Sicily). A new 64-m antenna, the SRT (Sardinia Radio
Telescope), is located in Sardinia (near Cagliari). Our
Institute was extensively involved in its design,
construction and testing. The antennas take part to the
VLBI global network for about 150 days a year.
The IRA
is a member of the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (
JIVE ) and participates in Consortia such as
the European VLBI Network ( EVN ) and the International VLBI Service for
Geodesy and Astronomy ( IVS
), as well as in the Committee for
Radio Astronomial Frequencies ( CRAF ). The IRA is involved in future
astronomical projects like ALMA ,
e-VLBI ,
SKA
, LOFAR , and is a main partner in a few
European Framework Programs funded by the European
Union. Also on behalf of INAF the IRA hosts an Alma
Regional Center ( ARC).
ASTRONOMICAL
PROJECTS
๏ Italian LOFAR web page (Lofar White Paper pdf)