ASTR 4015

Fall 2021
H. Radovan

Radio Astronomy: First Exam

October 2021

k B =1.38×10−23 J K−1 c=3×108 m s−1 1 Jy=10−26 W m− 2 Hz−1 1 ly=9.47×10 15 m

A 2
E L Fν
HA=LST −RA Ω= π θ L= F= P=F ν Aeff Δ ν I ν=
Ω=
r
2 ( )
2 t 4π d
2 Ω

2
2 ν k BT 2
F=σ T
4
Bν= 2
T B= λ I ν ⟨ E ⟩=2.7 k B T 2 2 2
( p I ) =Q +U +V
2

c 2 kB

Problem 1 [8 pts.]
Consider two radio sources on the sky with coordinates Dec1 = 30°, RA1 = 04h00m00s and Dec2 =
30°, RA2 = 05h30m00s. (a) Which source is further east and why? (b) When source 1 is transiting,
what is the local sidereal time? (c) When source 1 is transiting, what is the HA of source 2? (d)
Calculate the angular separation on the sky between the sources in units of degree (°).

Problem 2 [6 pts.]
A 100 s observation of a radio source yields a detected energy of 4×10-17 J, using a 2 m diameter radio
telescope with 500 kHz bandwidth. The source is at a distance of 10 ly from Earth. (a) Calculate the
observed flux density in jansky. (b) Assuming the source is isotropic, calculate its luminosity over the
bandwidth. (c) Considering the source as a uniform circle on the sky with 0.1° angular diameter, what
is its intensity (Iν)?

Problem 3 [4 pts.]
Using the given formulae, derive an expression for the number of photons emitted per time and per area
for blackbody radiation as function of the body’s temperature. You can leave the physical constants
without substituting their numerical values.

Problem 4 [6 pts.]
You are observing an opaque and thermal radio source with solid angle of 7×10-6 sr at a wavelength of
6 cm. If the recorded flux density is 300 Jy, calculate the source’s temperature. Is here the source’s
temperature equal to the brightness temperature of the radiation?

Problem 5 [6 pts.]
From a radio observation you derive the Stokes parameters as follows: I = 0.5 Jy/sr, Q = 0.05 Jy/sr, U =
0.07 Jy/sr, and V = 0. (a) Calculate the polarization fraction in percent. (b) Is this radiation linearly or
circularly polarized or both?