The Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory
Emmanuel Proven-Adzri, Nia Imara, Theophilus Ansah-Narh, Wonder Sewavi, Diana Klutse, Evaristus Iyida, Joseph Bremang Tandoh, Naomi Asabre Frimpong, Benedicta Woode, and Pieter Pretorius

TL;DR
The Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory transforms a decommissioned satellite antenna into a VLBI-ready radio telescope, enabling high-resolution observations and contributing to global and African radio astronomy efforts.
Contribution
This work details the technical development and early scientific results of GRAO, Africa's first operational VLBI radio telescope, enhancing regional and global astronomical capabilities.
Findings
High aperture efficiency (>77%) achieved
Successful VLBI fringe detections on intercontinental baselines
Early science results include spectral-line and pulsar observations
Abstract
The Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory (GRAO) marks a pivotal advance in African radio astronomy through the successful transformation of a decommissioned 32 m satellite communication antenna into a scientifically capable, VLBI-ready radio telescope. Strategically located near the equator at Kutunse, Ghana, the telescope offers nearly full-sky coverage (-77 degrees to +88 degrees declination), making it a valuable asset for time-domain astronomy, transient surveys, and global VLBI networks. This work documents the technical evolution of the facility, including beam-waveguide optics, dual-polarization C-band receivers (5 and 6.7 GHz), and recent backend upgrades culminating in the integration of a hydrogen maser, wideband ROACH2 system, and enhanced control and pointing infrastructure. We report early science results from high-resolution spectral-line observations of 6.7 GHz Class II…
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Taxonomy
TopicsRadio Astronomy Observations and Technology · Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena · Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
