searching for a set of RL02 slides

LOL. Brilliant. Saw a nice article today that calls cellphone owners to help astronomers to receive signals from the Huygens space probe (now on the moon Titan of Saturn). Here is the (free) translation: AMSTERDAM - Astronomers are asking the help of Dutch and Belgium cellphone owners to receive the extremely weak radio signals of the European space probe Huygens. Huygens is since 14th of January on the Saturn moon Titan. Allthough it was thought that Huygens after its descend on parachutes would only survive a few minutes there are clues that the probe is still active. Astronomers all over the world want to pick up Huygens' radiosignal as soon as possible, because any day could be the last that the probe still has sufficient energy. In order to receive the weak radiosignal astronomers call in the help of the people. Using cellphones, measurements can be done because cellphones are sensitive to radio signals. Cellphones communicate via repeaters with telecom satellites. Since these satellites reflect the signal back to the earth surface, groundstations for satellite communication, but also radio astronomers observatories, who have often bigger dish antennas, can receive the weak signals. By cooperating all cellphones, Holland and Belgium can form a gigantic radiotelescope. If people go on to the streets and aim their cellphone between 12.30 and 13.00 hours in east direction, those tens of thousends cellphones work together as one big radio mirror. The weak Huygens signal reflects via space back to the east of our (Holland) country where it can be picked up by out VLA synthesis radio telescope. The amplified signal will enable this radio telescope to receive the Huygens signal loud and clear. It is hoped that astronomers can find out what happened to the probe in the last few months by this amplification. <end trandslation> Here is the URL to the article (in Dutch of course) http://www.nu.nl/news/504049/81/Zwak_signaal_Huygens_opvangen_met_mobieltjes .html keep your eyes open! - Henk.