How do we introduce and demonstrate Radio Astronomy at Tamke-Allan Observatory? Tamke Allan Observatory is located in Rockwood Tennessee and is operated by Roane State Community College. Astronomy is a gateway to the sciences. Through astronomy, we recognize the relevance of biology and the necessity of physics and chemistry for understanding our place in the universe. Unfortunately, because of illumination from street lamps, car headlights and lighted signs, the night skies are becoming less accessible. Only when we find an isolated mountain, such as the one on which the Tamke-Allan Observatory (TAO) is located, can we rediscover our galaxy—the Milky Way— and obtain magnified glimpses of distant planets, the star-like moons of other planets and the diffuse glow of distant nebulae and comets. TAO supports college courses in astronomy. Mary Watson Research Scholarships are available for high school students. Public Stargazes are offered twice per month, on the First and Third Saturday. Research in Optical and Radio Astronomy by students and local astronomers keeps us current in astronomy topics. Sidewalk Astronomy activities bring astronomy to schools and public events. Please visit our website for more information. Abstract Initial work with the nominal 11.7 Ghz Ku band SARA-NRAO Radio Telescopes has shown them to be excellent little devices for introducing radio astronomy to students and the public. They are usually referred to as Itty Bitty Telescopes (IBTs), with a nod to their inspiration, the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). The IBT that we use at Tamke-Allan Observatory (TAO) is the most well-traveled of all of our radio telescopes, and we consider it to be an excellent introduction to radio astronomy. Other radio telescopes that we use at TAO are a 20.5 MHz system for Jupiter and Solar monitoring; a 6-m dish, and a 1420 MHz system for neutral hydrogen interstellar cloud monitoring. The IBT was built by Kerry Smith of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA) for the SARA/NRAO Navigator outreach program. Local SARA/NRAO Navigators include Tyler Moore, John Mannone, and David Fields. See Please visit Tamke-Allan Observatory. We are open each 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. See The IBT (Itty Bitty radio Telescope) at Tamke-Allan Observatory David E. Fields, Observatory Director Tamke Allan Observatory Roane State Community College Harriman, TN Inspiration for the IBT – The Green Bank radio Telescope The Green Bank radio Telescope, aka the Great Big radio Telescope (GBT) is the largest steerable radio telescope on the planet. It is 100 meters (300 feet) in diameter and has been used to study many distant astronomical radio sources. On the left is shown the GBT which, like our 18” diameter IBT, has an off-axis parabolic construction. The IBT is steerable, portable, and a great demonstration tool to show how to do radio astronomy. The IBT has audio and digital output for recording and sending data via the Internet using our SkyPipe program. Radio telescopes show us much of the structure of our universe because of their sensitivity and resolution. The sensitivity comes from the great capture-area of the large radio telescopes, while resolution is a function of both size and the wavelength, λ. For a group of radio telescopes properly connected, the effective size of the system is not the diameter of one dish; instead, it is the spacing between the radio telescopes. Both the GBT and the IBT receive signals from celestial radio emitters. Like optical telescopes, they are used to listen to signals that penetrate transmission ‘windows’ through our atmosphere/ionosphere, as shown by the graph on the left. The cartoon on the right reminds us of the diversity of radio sources, which include neutral hydrogen and organic molecular clouds, stars, planets, rocks and a plethora of man-made devices such as satellites and communications equipment.. Radio sources are well- represented in the sky, but most are comparatively weak. Our small-aperture IBT easily sees the sun, many satellites, and large room-temperature objects, including people. Here Ron Dinkin’s family and Katie Sloop are enjoying using the IBT. Our telescope dome in the background is closed, since the day was cloudy. The IBT operates through the clouds. Roane State Community College hosts a minority workshop in science each summer. This year the astronomy lectures featured an introduction to radio astronomy using our IBT; telescope making; and a discussion about our solar system. The TAO IBT has also been used during radio astronomy lectures at the Oak Ridge Civil Air Patrol squadron on two occasions. Here cadets discuss whether a streetlight emits enough radio energy to be detected. The IBT was demonstrated recently at a fly-in at Rockwood Airport. Where are we using the TAO Itty Bitty radio Telescope?