Astron Instruments

Let us help you embrace the Universe

Who We Are

Astron Instruments is a brainchild of two physics enthusiasts who always wanted to provide quality scientific equipment and education locally, in Pakistan. Inspired by this mission, Astron Instruments was born. We are a pioneer in providing Astronomy related services in Pakistan and aim to nurture and support local scientific endeavours.

Our Services

“Impossible” is not a scientific term

Somewhere something Incredible is waiting to be known.

Telescope Servicing

We service reflecting OTA (newtonian), refrecting OTA (Achromat doublet, Apochromat Doublet, triplet, quadruplet), catadiaoptics OTA (SCT, DKM) Assembly telescopes.

Telescope Commissioning

Help you in choosing the right telescope for your project, installation and weather and light sensor and other accessories.

Observatory Commissioning

Help you with sight allocation and in sourcing the right equipment and setting up the observatory as per your requirements.

ASTRONOMY SETUP FOR UNIVERSITIES & SCHOOLS

Is your school ready for an Astronomy setup?
Whether you need a Telescope or an observatory set up, Whether you’re funded by an allocated budget, a grant, or donations, we’re prepared to work with you.

Selected Work

Products

Complete Radio Telescopes

Radio2Space turnkey radio telescopes for sale, designed for radio astronomy or satellite communication, are available in diameters from 2.3 meters to 5 meters, offering various types of antenna tracking systems with high precision and load capacity. Radio telescopes for radio astronomy come with a special 1420 MHz receiver and a full remote control and acquisition software. Radio telescopes for satellite communications are designed for S-band, other bands on request.

SPIDER 230C 2.3 meter diameter compact radio telescope

For radio astronomy

SPIDER 230C is the compact radio telescope that combines radio with amateur astronomy technologies that will allow you discover the world of radio astronomy with a powerful, modular and easy-to-use product! We developed this radio telescope to allow everyone to approach this fascinating science with an affordable, turn-key, high-performance instrument.

Thanks to our patented technology, SPIDER 230C uses the equatorial mounts normally used in optical telescopes. This way you have a great compact radio telescope perfect to start your projects, perfect also for amateur radio astronomy!

The SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope uses the WEB230-5 antenna, a mesh 2.3-meter diameter parabolic antenna designed to offer a larger diameter with lower overall weight. The 230C weighs much less than a normal 1.5 meter diameter full-surface model, offering better resolution capacity due to its greater diameter while maintaining a lower sensitivity to wind due to the perforated surface of the antenna. The reflecting surface of this antenna (the primary reflector) is composed of an aluminum mesh with 3×4 mm holes for optimum reflectivity of radio waves with frequencies up to 5 GHz.

SPIDER 230C 2.3 meter diameter compact radio telescope: specifications

Designed to be used with equatorial mounts
The SPIDER 230C compact radio telescope is designed to be used with computerized equatorial mounts like those used by amateur astronomers with normal optical telescopes. These mounts offer, a high load capacity and pointing/tracking precision at a low price. You can use the SPIDER 230C with your equatorial mount (in order to work the SPIDER 230C needs for an equatorial GOTO mount with at least 50 kg payload capacity, Losmandy style dovetail clamp and ASCOM driver) but we can also supply it the SPIDER 230C with an EQ8 SynScan mount. The mount is controlled by our RadioUniversePRO software through the ASCOM platform so if you want to use your mount, please verify that it comes with an available ASCOM driver.

Equatorial mounts support device
Our equatorial mounts support device (patented) allows you to install the WEB230-5 antenna on any equatorial mount (with Losmandy dovetail and load capacity of at least 50 kg, ie. EQ8 type). Thanks to a two-counterweight-sliding system to protect against accidental drops, you can get a perfect balance even in the declination axis for maximum tracking and automatic goto performance of the mount. Without counterweights the radio telescope would be completely biased towards the front (because of the weight of the primary reflector and LNA + feedhorn group with support rods) and therefore could not properly point and track objects in the sky. A special system of rear tie rods increases the rigidity of the structure while minimizing the deformation of such a big diameter parabolic antenna.

1420 MHz optimized feed horn
Developed specifically for 1420 MHz Radio2Space radio telescopes, the H-FEED feedhorn is designed for optimal illumination of the primary reflector, allowing for high gain while minimizing side lobes and the spillover effect, thus obtaining the best possible performance from the 2.3 meters parabolic antenna. The feedhorn is designed to allow the reception of dual polarization with support for two professional Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) for the 1420 MHz frequency. The feedhorn is positioned at the perfect point of focus of the antenna through a rigid structure with four supports to minimize obstruction, with a focusing device to precisely focus and maximize the performance of the entire radio telescope.

H142-One: the 1420 MHz receiver for radioastronomy, radiometer and spectrometer
In order to get the best possible performance from the 2.3 meter diameter antenna of the SPIDER 230C, the H142-One receiver has been specially developed, a 1420 MHz superheterodyne type radiometer/spectrometer, double conversion (type UP/DOWN) with 50 MHz received instantaneous bandwidth (RF=1.395MHz-1.445MHz) and 14-bit analog to digital converter. The H142-One receiver has spectrometer with 1024 channels (each 61 KHz) that are displayed and processed in real time by the control software supplied with the radio telescope. Thanks to the high gain and the low electronic noise of this receiver, the SPIDER 230C radio telescope is able to record many radio sources throughout the universe.

RadioUniversePRO: the control, data capture and processing software for radio astronomy
SPIDER 230C comes with RadioUniversePRO software that is specifically designed to allow you to operate, check all system parameters, and record various results with the radio telescope. RadioUniversePRO can be installed on a standard Windows computer and is compatible with Vista, 7, 8 and 10. The graphical interface provides a simple mode with integrated planetarium that shows, in real time, the position of radio sources in the sky, and then allows you to simply use the SPIDER 230C radio telescope. At the same time RadioUniversePRO offers the possibility to activate the advanced interface which adds many options, customizations and typical functions of professional radio telescopes and are therefore particularly useful for expert users (that found in RadioUniversePRO the same modus operandi of the large-sized radio telescopes).

SPIDER: the first Lunar Module to flight in space with astronauts
SPIDER radio telescopes are named in honor of the first LM (Lunar Module) to flight in space with astronauts (March 1969) during Apollo 9 mission. A view of the Apollo 9 Lunar Module (LM), “Spider”, in a lunar landing configuration, as photographed from the Command and Service Modules (CSM) on the fifth day of the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission. Credits: NASA.

SPIDER 300A 3.0 meter diameter advanced radio telescope

For radio astronomy

SPIDER 300A is an advanced 1420 MHz radio telescope designed to let schools, universities, scientific museums and other educational institutes make real radio astronomy! Designed with the same features of the big professional radio telescopes, SPIDER 300A is a complete, reliable and easy to use instrument.

This radio telescope is able to detect many different radio sources, not only in our Solar System. All the components of this radio telescope have all been designed to offer the best performance and long term use.

SPIDER 300A 3.0 meter diameter advanced radio telescope: specifications

WEB300-5: the 3 meter prime focus parabolic antenna
In order to create a powerful but still compact, easy to handle radio telescope, we developed the WEB300-5 antenna that, thanks to 3 meters diameter and fine metallic mesh construction, provides a large collection surface with a low overall weight. Special rear supports maintain the rigidity of the whole parabolic antenna on the mount, avoiding any bending and ensuring the effectiveness of the pointing system. This also helps to maintain a perfect parabolic shape with a maximum error of less than lambda/20.

H-FEED: the 1420 MHz optimized feedhorn
Developed specifically for 1420 MHz Radio2Space radio telescopes, the H-FEED feedhorn is designed for optimal illumination of the primary reflector, allowing for high gain while minimizing side lobes and the spillover effect, thus obtaining the best possible performance from the 3 meter parabolic antenna. The feedhorn is designed to allow the reception of dual polarization with support for two professional Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) for the 1420 MHz frequency. The feedhorn is positioned at the perfect point of focus of the antenna through a rigid structure with four supports to minimize obstruction, with a focusing device to precisely focus and maximize the performance of the entire radio telescope.

WP-100: the alt-az weatherproof computerized mount
Radio astronomy can be performed during day or night time – even while cloudy, since the 1420 MHz radio waves are not blocked by clouds. For this reason, in order to capitalize on this opportunity we designed the WP-100 altazimuth mount, completely weatherproof, allowing you to leave the SPIDER 300A radio telescope permanently installed outside. Equipped with automatic tracking and goto system controlled by the radio telescope software, it allows you to frame and track your target with great precision. The WP-100 mount has a 100 Kg load capacity with very high precision pointing and tracking (encoders with a read resolution of 0,0015°). It can also be equipped with a special electronic security system (optional) which “parks” the antenna pointed at the Zenith (the vertical position) when the wind exceeds 50 Km/h, offering the lowest resistance to the wind where it is safely locked.

C106-HEAVY: the high load capacity pier
The WEB300-5 antenna, for its large diameter, can generate a lot of force on the ground – When combined with the weight of the WP-100 mount, a very stable and robust anchoring system is required. The C106-HEAVY pier offers all of these features, and is designed to keep the SPIDER 300A radio telescope permanently installed in the field. The SPIDER 300A and the C106-HEAVY pier are designed to be installed on a reinforced concrete base, fixed by means of special high strength bolts. Along with the installation and operation manuals for the radio telescope, an example of concrete base design (that the user has to prepare to install the SPIDER 300A and that he has to verify based on terrain type of the radio telescope installation location) is supplied.

H142-One: the 1420 MHz receiver for radioastronomy, radiometer and spectrometer
In order to get the best possible performance from the 3 meter diameter antenna of the SPIDER 300A, the H142-One receiver has been specially developed, a 1420 MHz superheterodyne type radiometer/spectrometer, double conversion (type UP/DOWN) with 50 MHz received instantaneous bandwidth (RF=1.395MHz-1.445MHz) and 14-bit analog to digital converter. The H142-One receiver has spectrometer with 1024 channels (each 61 KHz) that are displayed and processed in real time by the control software supplied with the radio telescope. Thanks to the high gain and the low electronic noise of this receiver, the SPIDER 300A radio telescope is able to record many radio sources throughout the universe, with a theoretical flow of at least 13 Jy. The H142-One receiver and the RCPU-100 remote control and power unit of the SPIDER 300A mount can be installed on a 19″ rack but they can also be placed on a table close to the control computer.

SPIDER 500A 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope

For radio astronomy

SPIDER 500A is a 5 meter diameter radio telescope designed to make 1420 MHz professional level radio astronomy accessible to everyone: universities, science institutes, scientific museums or space agencies.

The SPIDER 500A professional radio telescope is a complete, ready to use system equipped with a 5 meter diameter antenna, giant weatherproof alt-azi mount, high load capacity pier, H142-One 1420 MHz radiometer and spectrometer receiver with RadioUniversePRO software.

The large 5 meter diameter parabolic antenna offers high gain, the special WP-400 altazimuth weatherproof mount with high load capacity allows for high precision tracking performance even in strong wind and inclement weather conditions, the H142One 1420 MHz receiver with the ability to record important neutral Hydrogen line radio emissions. Everything is remotely controlled by our RadioUniversePRO software that controls the radio telescope and records signals coming from space!

SPIDER 500A 5.0 meter diameter professional radio telescope: specifications

WEB500-5: the 5 meter prime focus parabolic antenna
The WEB500-5 parabolic antenna has been developed to get a powerful radio telescope, that, thanks to fine metallic mesh construction, provides a large collection surface with a low overall weight. Special rear supports maintain the rigidity of the whole parabolic antenna on the mount, avoiding any bending and ensuring the effectiveness of the pointing system. This also helps to maintain a perfect parabolic shape with a maximum error of less than lambda/20

WP-400: the alt-az waterproof computerized mount
Radio astronomy can be performed during day or night time – even while cloudy, since the 1420 MHz radio waves are not blocked by clouds. For this reason, in order to capitalize on this opportunity we designed the new WP-400 completely weatherproof, allowing you to leave the SPIDER 500A radio telescope permanently installed outside. Equipped with automatic tracking and goto system controlled by the radio telescope software, it allows you to frame and track your target with great precision. The WP-400 mount has 400 Kg load capacity with very high precision pointing and tracking (encoders with a read resolution of 0,0015°). It can also be equipped with a special electronic security system (optional) which “parks” the antenna pointed at the Zenith (the vertical position) when the wind exceeds 50 Km/h, offering the lowest resistance to the wind where it is safely locked.

Testimonials

What our customers say about us !

As u all know that buying a telescope in Pakistan is impossible but i really thanks who made me meet Mr. Abbas Jafri who is a great and very helpful person. He owned a Telescope Celestron SLT 130 for 2 years and now i am the onwer of the 5.1" Celestron SLT 130. Abbas bhai helped a lot and trainned me to use the telescope before i buy it. When i buyed the Telescope it was in gr8 condition and it does not seems that i am buying a telescope which is in used for 2 years. Abbas bhai also fix the Finder scope of my Telescope and it will become just like new. WOW … again i Thanks to ALLAH and Abbas bhai who make my childhood wish come true.
Hussain Abbas- Celestron SLT 130

Abbas helped in washing 18 inch primary mirror of Obsession Telescope. The mirror had collected dust over a long period of usage and his help and initiative was very vital. Without this it would have stayed like that for more months and years.
Khalid P Marwat, President KaAS

I bought a Meade 60mm refracting telescope from a local scrap yard in Karachi and the telescope was in very bad condition.I gave the telescope to Abbas Jafri for renovation and repair and after just two weeks he made the telescope look new. I now enjoy crisp views of planets and bright DSO’s through it.
Ebrahim Haq

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