Mario Armando Natali
MURMUR: A Predictive Tool for Pulsar Detectability
MURMUR is a Windows-based software application initially released in 2016, designed to assess the likelihood of pulsar detection by analysing the parameters of a receiving station. Over time, the program has evolved to incorporate a wide range of additional features. These include solar noise prediction using data from NOAA solar observatories, estimation of noise levels from major cosmic sources, observation planning tools, object tracking capabilities, signal plotting, and various other utilities aimed at optimizing the performance of the receiving system
BIO
Mario Armando Natali was born in Italy in 1951 and developed a strong interest in electronics and engineering from an early age. He earned a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Bologna (UNIBO).
Following his graduation, he pursued a career in the semiconductor industry, where he spent his entire professional life in both technical and managerial roles across various regions of the world.
Alongside his professional endeavours, he is an enthusiastic amateur radio operator. In 2015, he installed a 5-meter parabolic antenna, now fully dedicated to Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communications and radio astronomy, with a particular focus on the study of pulsars.
He has published numerous articles on radio and related technologies, including a contribution to the 2025 edition of the ARRL Antenna Book, where he introduces readers to radio astronomy. He also develops free software to support the amateur radio and amateur radio astronomy communities.