by Simon Johnston (CASS)

A collaboration between CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) and the Max Planck Institute für Radioastronomie (MPIfR) has resulted in one of the Phased-Array Feeds (PAF) designed for ASKAP being placed in the focus cabin of CSIRO’s 64-m Parkes telescope . It will remain at Parkes over the next few months before being installed on the 100-m Effelsberg telescope in Germany. The three pictures above show (from left to right): MPIfR Director Michael Kramer with the PAF in the focus cabin of the telescope; the stairs to the focus cabin which sits 24m above the dish surface; Michael Kramer and Brett Preisig (CASS Engineer) on top of the focus cabin.