In order to ensure that our receiving system was functioning properly, we performed a test called sun noise testing. The sun radiates energy at all wavelengths, and it can be measured on earth with an antenna to determine how sensitive a receiving system is. In order to test a receiving system with sun noise, you first pointed the antenna at a ‘cold’ part of the sky, which is essentially anywhere in the sky that the sun is not. Then, you point the antenna directly at the sun. There should be very little signal measured when pointing the antenna at the ‘cold’ spot, but as the antenna gets closer and closer to the sun there should be more and more power received. This is shown below.
