Robust Absolute Solar Flux Density Calibration for the Murchison Widefield Array

Abstract Sensitive radio instruments are optimized for observing faint astronomical sources, and usually need to attenuate the received signal when Sun. There only a handful of flux density calibrators that can comfortably be observed with same attenuation setup as Additionally, wide field-of-view (FoV) like Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) calibrator observations generally done Sun is below horizon, avoid contamination from solar emissions. These considerations imply usual interferometric approach calibration not applicable imaging. A novel technique, relying on good sky model detailed characterization MWA hardware, was developed MWA. Though successful, this technique general enough extended data configuration Phase II. Here, we present robust method independent array configuration. We use different approaches—the serendipitous presence strong sources; detection numerous background sources using high dynamic range images in FoV along Sun; without additional used observations—to obtain scaling parameters required calibration. Using method, have achieved an absolute uncertainty ?10% even absence dedicated observations.