The Metsähovi Radio Observatory is the only astronomical radio observatory in Finland. The observatory is a separate institute of Aalto University, School of Electrical Engineering, and is located in Kirkkonummi, about 30 kilometres west of the Otaniemi campus. Metsähovi’s main instrument is the 14-metre radio telescope, which operates around the clock, every day of the year. Its observations are applied to studies such as active galaxies, the sun, and the Earth’s rotation.
Telescope 1:
| geographic longitude: | 24° 23′ 36″ |
| geographic latitude: | 60° 13′ 05″ |
| altitude above sea level: | 79.2 m |
| diameter of the telescope: | 14 m |
| minimum elevation: | 0° |
Available observing mode: single dish, Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).
Frequencies used currently:
| Frequency band | Observing mode |
| 2.21 – 2.35 GHz | VLBI / geo-VLBI |
| 8.15 – 8.65 GHz | VLBI / geo-VLBI |
| 21.0 – 22.0 GHz | single dish (continuum) |
| 21.98 – 22.48 GHz | VLBI |
| 22.4 – 23.4 GHz | single dish (continuum) |
| 35.3 – 38.3 GHz | single dish (solar, continuum) |
| 40 – 45 GHz | VLBI |
| 83.5 – 98 GHz | single dish, VLBI |
Telescope 2:
Metsähovi operates two instruments for continuous monitoring of the Sun at 50-1500 MHz and 11.2 GHz. The 1.8 m parabolic telescope is equipped with an 11.2 GHz receiver with 1 GHz bandwidth. The whole Sun fits into the beam of the telescope, allowing the variation of the total solar flux to be monitored. The dish is mounted on an alt-azimuth mount to allow tracking of the Sun throughout the day and year. Two log-periodic antennas of the international e-Callisto system are mounted on the sides of the 1.8 metre dish. The e-Callisto system operates between 50-850 MHz and continuously collects data on solar flares and other phenomena.
| geographic longitude: | 24° 23′ 36″ |
| geographic latitude: | 60° 13′ 05″ |
| altitude above sea level: | 79.2 m |
| diameter telescope: | 1.8 m |
Frequencies used currently:
| Frequency band | Observing mode |
| 50 – 850 MHz | single dish (solar observations) |
| 10.7 – 11.7 GHz | single dish (solar observations) |
Telescope 3:
Metsähovi’s third telescope is for continuous monitoring of the Sun at 18-80 MHz.
Frequencies used currently:
| Frequency band | Observing mode |
| 18 – 80 MHz | single dish (solar observations) |
Research programs: solar radio astronomy, monitoring of active galactic nuclei, geodetic VLBI.
New receivers under development: MCA (Metsähovi Compact Array) project – four 5.5-metre radio telescopes for continuum, solar, and VLBI purposes. Preliminary frequency range will be between 4 and 8 GHz.