A graphical tool for demonstrating the techniques of radio interferometry

Abstract: We present a graphical interface designed to demonstrate the techniques of radio interferometry used by telescopes like ALMA, e-Merlin, the JVLA and SKA, in a manner accessible to the general public. Interferometry is an observational tech- nique used by astronomers to combine the signal from a few to tens to hundreds of individual small antennas to achieve high resolution images at radio and millimetre wavelengths. This graphical interface demonstrates how the number of antenna, their position relative to one another and the rotation of the Earth allow astronomers to create highly detailed images at long wavelengths.