Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network

Network of six solar helioseismology observatories

Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network
BiSON telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Atacama Region, Chile.
Alternative names	BiSON
Organization	University of Birmingham
Telescope style	solar telescope
Website	bison.ph.bham.ac.uk
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The Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON) consists of a network of six remote solar observatories monitoring low-degree solar oscillation modes. It is operated by the High Resolution Optical Spectroscopy group of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, UK, in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, UK. They are funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).^[1]

The BiSON has been collecting data continuously on solar oscillations since 1976, making it the longest running helioseismology network with data covering three solar cycles.^[2]

Team

Academic staff

Professor Yvonne Elsworth (Head of project)
Professor Bill Chaplin

Research staff

Anne-Marie Broomhall — Helioseismology
Andrea Miglio
Steven Hale

Technical staff

Mr Ian Barnes — Electronics
Mr Barry Jackson — Mechanics

Remote observatories

BiSON operates automated resonant scattering spectrometers in astronomical domes or mirror fed systems. The network was established in 1976 with two permanent stations; the addition of several more sites culminated with the addition of a sixth in 1992.^[3] The current sites are:

Mount Wilson Observatory, California, USA
Las Campanas Observatory, Region IV, Chile
Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
South African Astronomical Observatory, Sutherland, South Africa
OTC Earth Station Carnarvon, Carnarvon, WA, Australia
Paul Wild Observatory, Narrabri, NSW, Australia

References

^ "BiSON :: Home". Retrieved 16 May 2009.
^ "BiSON The Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network". Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
^ Chaplin, W. J.; Elsworth, Y.; Isaak, G. R.; McLeod, C. P.; Miller, B. A.; New, R. (May 1996). "Recent Results from the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON)". American Astronomical Society. 188 (1996AAS...188.6904C): 936. Bibcode:1996AAS...188.6904C.