On 10 Feb 2016 a Phased-Array Feed (PAF) was
hoisted into the focus cabin of the 64-m Parkes radio telescope. The PAF is
based on the ASKAP design and forms part of CSIRO's collaboration with
Germany's Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn. After
several months of commissioning on Parkes, the PAF is now installed on the
100-m Effelsberg telescope where further commissioning is happening. The
picture on the bottom right shows the new MkIII PAF design. This rocket PAF
performs very well, and we hope to build a bigger, crygenically cooled
version for Parkes. - The pictures above were taken by John Sarkissian
(CASS).
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