Solar temperature at 4 GHz: an undergraduate experiment

Abstract

An experiment is described using readily available satellite television receiving equipment to obtain an approximate value for the solar (quiet Sun) temperature at a frequency of 4 GHz (7.5 cm), using a comparison method. The procedure described here appears to be quite suitable for use at the undergraduate level inasmuch as it does not require any special electronic equipment. It is found that the observed value is within 10% of the accepted value (approximately 28 000 K). The results are considered to be satisfactory, given the substantial approximations made in the performance of the experiment and analysis of the data.