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Telescopes

ASTRON is responsible for the operations of the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) and the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR).

Astronomy

The astronomical research at ASTRON is closely aligned with the strengths of our facilities LOFAR and WSRT-APERTIF.

Diversity & Sustainability

ASTRON is committed to achieving a fair, welcoming, and sustainable work environment for all.

Beschermingszones


Met onze radiotelescopen nemen wij de meest zwakke signalen uit het heelal waar. Daardoor zijn zij kwetsbaar voor elektromagnetische storing. Met het tijdig treffen van de juiste maatregelen kan storing worden voorkomen.

Wireless Data Lab


Draadloze techniek lijkt vanzelfsprekend, maar de ontwikkeling ervan gaat niet vanzelf. Daarom hebben we bij ASTRON een proeftuin ingericht; het Wireless Data Lab.

Making discoveries
in radio astronomy
happen.

ASTRON is the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, and is part of the Institutes organisation of NWO.
STORIES

‘Beyond what we’d hoped’: international telescope in Australia captures first glimpse of the Universe

The first image from the international SKA Observatory’s telescope in Australia, SKA-Low, has been released – a significant milestone in its quest to reveal an unparalleled view of our Universe.

Science
SKA
Published by the editorial team, 17 March 2025

New Technology for Ultra-Fast Data Transfer: SURF and ASTRON Establish 400G Connection

SURF and ASTRON have implemented the OpenZR+ technology to establish a 400G network connection, significantly enhancing scientific research in the Netherlands.

LOFAR
News
Published by the editorial team, 20 February 2025

Astronomers Astonished: Enigmatic Distant Radio Bursts Appear to be Neutron Stars

Using the radio telescope at Westerbork, The Netherlands, astronomers have discovered two dozen of the unexplained Fast Radio Bursts. After zooming in on the signal of the distant bursts, the astronomers found a striking similarity to the radio flashes emitted by nearby, known neutron stars. The discovery is remarkable because these nearby neutron stars already produce more energy than anything achievable on Earth. The distant stars that emit the Fast Radio Bursts must somehow generate an astounding one billion times more energy than the nearby ones.

Astronomy
News
Science
WSRT-APERTIF
Published by the editorial team, 23 January 2025

European Pulsar Timing Array Wins Two Prestigious Awards

The European Pulsar Timing Array (EPTA) has been honored with two major awards for its groundbreaking work in gravitational wave astronomy. In 2024, the team received the International Congress of Basic Sciences (ICBS) Frontiers of Science Award in China, followed by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) Group Achievement Award in the United Kingdom in 2025.These accolades celebrate the team’s innovative use of pulsar timing to detect low-frequency gravitational waves. The EPTA is a collaborative effort involving scientists from more than ten institutions across Europe. ASTRON is one of the participating organisations in this project with its most sensitive radio telescope including the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope. (WSRT).

Astronomy
News
Science
WSRT-APERTIF
Published by the editorial team, 16 January 2025

Roelien Attema named as Netherlands Academy of Engineering Fellow

Using short radio flashes to probe the remnants of neutron star mergers

LOFAR1 operations stopped, telescope gearing up for 2.0 upgrade

Gargantuan Black Hole Jets Are Biggest Seen Yet

Second-Generation Starlink Satellites Leak 30 Times More Radio Interference, Threatening Astronomical Observations

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DAILY IMAGE

LOFAR2.0: PTS handover

© LOFAR2.0 team

The Production Test Stations (PTS: CS032 and RS307) are the first stations to be upgraded to LOFAR2.0. Together with the prototype station (CS001) they define the second array release of LOFAR2.0 (AR-B).

The upgrade took place in July and September 2024 and their verification (when we test that the stations have been assembled correctly) was completed in February 2025. The next step after verification is the transfer to Telescope Operations, marking the start of commissioning. One of the goals of PTS was to prepare the rollout procedures; only if they are well defined and complete, can transfer the stations with confidence.

On March 26th, we held the PTS handover review. The rollout team was represented by Henri Meulman and the verification team by Menno Norden, Cees Bassa and Jun Wang. Boudewijn Hut (LOFAR2.0 system engineer), Marco Drost (head of Telescope operations), Andre Gunst (LOFAR2.0 system architect), Bernard Asabere (instrument scientist), Henk Mulder (telescope operator) and Michiel Brentjens (LOFAR2.0 commissioning lead) were invited as reviewers. The following points were discussed:

- Status of the hardware at the stations

- Installation process

- Post installation testing/checklist

- Station verification procedure

- Verification results of PTS

- Site acceptance report.

In a lively and collaborative atmosphere, we touched upon the most critical aspects and identified improvements. The conclusion: the team is well prepared to continue with the rollout. The happy faces say it all!

ASTRON daily image.
EVENTS

CASPER Workshop 2025

Mon 08 Sep 2025 - Fri 12 Sep 2025

The CASPER workshop is a semi-annual workshop where FPGA, GPU, and general heterogeneous system programmers get together to discuss new instruments in radio astronomy, as well as the tools and libraries for developing and manipulating these instruments.

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