Inroduction to the Techniques of Interferometry and Lunar Occultation in Radio Astronomy

摘要

Radio telescopes allow a 24 × 7 observation time window ofthose regions of the space which appear dark in the visibleregion. But, the major problem with a single radio telescopeis its poor resolution. In this article, the method of interferometryin radio astronomy is discussed by citing the exampleof a two-element interferometer. Interferometry providesimproved resolution.With a single telescope as well, the resolutioncan be improved for the radio sources along the eclipticwhich are smaller in angular spread as compared to theMoon. The theoretical principle behind the technique of occultationis discussed using its optical analog of diffraction.