RSGB 2023 Convention - The UK Meteor Beacon project

Brian Coleman, G4NNS
Phase 1 of this project was completed in 2022 when the UK meteor beacon GB3MBA went on the air enabling studies of meteor events over the UK using simple equipment and making possible a range of STEM projects featuring radio and astronomy. Phase 2 of the project, which is described in the presentation, is to develop a network of receivers streaming their data via a central server for detailed study of individual meteor events. This
is a cooperation between the “worlds” of amateur radio and astronomy. In particular this is with members of the Fireball alliance, which in the UK is led from the Natural History Museum, with the aim of studying meteors and, when possible, recovering meteorites. Both project phases have been supported by the RSGB Legacy Fund and beacon running costs
for three years are being met by the British Astronomical Association.
First licensed as G8AZU in 1967, Brian has always been interested in UHF and microwave activity and construction. He is active on 3.4, 5.7, 10 and 24GHz EME using a 3.7m dish antenna and is interested in radio astronomy. Recently he has developed an interest in making meteor observations using radio and has assembled a team to build the GB3MBA beacon to provide UK coverage and to develop a receiver network for the study of meteor events over the UK.

[@gw4fokwales113]

Okay, I get the relevance of the head echo’s Doppler being used to determine velocity and by triangulation path, but could not the tail echo be used to extrapolate tail length and also path? Found this to be an extremely informative and professionally delivered presentation about an aspect of amateur radio I had never previously given much consideration to. Bravo Brian and credit to RSGB for supporting a project that could bring heightened respect to the radio amateur community in the UK.