Analysis of 21cm Radiation and the Galactic Rotational Curve using the TLM18 Radio Telescope

Abstract

The galaxy has always been an unknown place for humans. Despite the advancement of modern technologies, it is still very hard for scientists to determine the entities that exist in space. The 21-cm radiation is electromagnetic radiation emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms undergoing a specific energy transition. In this research project, the aim is to understand the usage of the TLM-18 radio telescope in analyzing data from drift scans, including Sun scans, Cas A-scans, and the 21 cm radiation. We will also determine a galactic rotation curve for our galaxy. The Milky Way data is collected using the 18m TLM18 radio telescope located in Belmar, New Jersey, USA. The data are then interpreted in Matplotlib to generate line graphs and heatmaps that reveal patterns within space, such as galactic rotation. This project serves as a model for analyzing and interpreting data from the telescope. The data is visualized using Python libraries to enhance the visual representation and facilitate a more comprehensive examination.