page_title: Green Bank Observatory
section_title: Active telescopes
hierarchical_section_title: Green Bank Observatory / Active telescopes
caption_attribution_description: English: The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope is the world’s largest, fully-steerable telescope. Located at the Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia, United States.
context_page_description: The Green Bank Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia, U.S. It is the operator of the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope.
  The observatory was established as the National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory in 1956, and made its first observations in 1958. It served as the NRAO's headquarters until 1966, after which the facility was known as the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank.
  In October 2016, the observatory became an independent institution, following a 2012 recommendation that the NSF fully divest itself from the facility by October 1, 2016.
  Green Bank Observatory subsequently retained partial NSF funding, established private contracts, and formed a partnership with West Virginia University. It is operated by the nonprofit Associated Universities, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.
context_section_description: Green Bank Telescope
  140 Foot (43m) Telescope
  20 Meter Telescope
  40 Foot Telescope
caption: Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope
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