For Scientists NEWS GALLERY TELESCOPES + TECH ▼ VISIT US ▼ LEARN ▼ EXPLORE ▼ GIVE RADIO ASTRONOMY IS: Cutting Edge Observatories Arrays of radio telescopes form the most gigantic eyes on the sky, with the largest spanning over 5,300 miles across. Dish-shaped antennas are the most accurate radio telescopes ever built, and the NRAO runs the most powerful and most productive of them. Explore the Amazing NRAO Telescopes Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in the Atacama Desert, Chile, is the most complex observatory ever built. Very Long Baseline Array The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is ten radio telescopes stationed across 5,351 miles. It’s the world’s sharpest, dedicated telescope array. Very Large Array The VLA is the most advanced radio telescope array on Earth, a customizable interferometer that spans up to 22 miles across. NRAO Mission Control Want to know what we’re observing in real time? NRAO’s Mission Control shows the entire sky surrounding the earth with color-coded targets, marking the place on the sky where each telescope is pointing right now. Home Telescopes Major Initiatives Besides operating premier observatories for the astronomical community, NRAO has undertaken two major initiatives in service to the broader science community. The Next Generation Very Large Array – ngVLA As part of the mandate to the Observatory, the NRAO is looking toward the long-range future of radio astronomy, engaging with the broad science and technical community to design the next generation of VLA. VLASS The Very Large Array will survey the entire sky visible taken from their location three times over the next seven years. The survey, VLASS, will provide unprecedented resolution with improved sensitivity and this data will flow directly into the archives to the community to mine for discoveries. Affiliated Telescopes These are some telescopes with which we have strong ties. The Green Bank Telescope In Green Bank, West Virginia, the Green Bank Observatory’s Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope is the world’s largest, fully-steerable telescope. Historic Telescopes For over 50 years, we have been building and running radio antennas of all shapes and sizes, sometimes hauling them around the countryside. Tatel Tatel was NRAO’s first telescope, an 85-foot dish built from a kit in 1959. 300-foot Telescope A 300-foot transit radio telescope operated in Green Bank from 1962 until 1988. It was the world’s largest telescope for many years. Green Bank Interferometer The Green Bank Interferometer is a set of three 85-foot dish antennas that were used together with an outlier as one large telescope. Millimeter-wave Telescopes Since the late 1950s, we have built radio telescopes to detect millimeter waves, the shortest radio waves that reach us through the atmosphere. Calibrating Antennas Measuring the atmosphere, radio interference, and the radiation from bright radio sources is a critical part of making accurate observations. Telescope Technology Interested in the technology and engineering that go into the telescopes themselves? Read about it here. What are Radio Telescopes? We use radio telescopes to study naturally occurring radio light from stars, galaxies, black holes, and other astronomical objects. Radio Frequency Interference The radio signals arriving on Earth from astronomical objects are extremely weak — millions (or billions) of times weaker than the signals used by communication systems. Our Latest Telescope Technology At today’s observatories, the needs of astronomers for better instruments continue to drive developments in such fields as electronics, mechanical engineering, and computer science. Previous As Seen on TV! Into Deepest Space: The Story of Alma Enjoy this 52-minute public television documentary that reveals the motivations, struggles, and ultimate triumphs of the people designing and building the most elaborate ground-based astronomical observatory ever, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Watch the movie now! 1 2 Next Connect with NRAO Tweets by TheNRAO The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..." AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public. News Gallery Telescopes + Tech Visit Us Learn Explore Give For Scientists About NRAO Ask an Astronomer Historical Archives ACEAP Media Use Social Media Policy NRAO Library Central Development Lab Technology Transfer Careers at NRAO NRAO Diversity Employee Services Visitor Code of Conduct Contact Us NRAO Headquarters 520 Edgemont Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-296-0211 More Information Here © 2021 The National Radio Astronomy Observatory