Radio Astronomy and Imaging
There are tons a amateur radio astronomy clubs and groups.  Radio Astronomy was basically started by an amateur named Grote Reber, where he basically did the experiment that you are pondering to do in 1937 in his backyard in Wheaton, Illinois.  You can visit that exact instrument at the NRAO facility in Green Bank, West Virginia.  It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

Just Google Amateur Radio Astronomy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reber_Radio_Telescope

http://www.nrao.edu/whatisra/hist_reber.shtml