Latest Updates on COVID-19 Measures from NRAO and Operational Status Learn More. For Scientists NEWS GALLERY TELESCOPES + TECH ▼ VISIT US ▼ LEARN ▼ EXPLORE ▼ GIVE NEWS + FEATURES 4 November 2021 Next Generation Very Large Array Strongly Endorsed by Decadal Survey The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (Astro2020) of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences has given high priority to the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) as part of its strategy and vision for the next decade of research at the frontiers of astronomy and astrophysics. 3 November 2021 ALMA Scientists Detect Signs of Water in a Galaxy Far, Far Away 2 November 2021 A Cosmic Whodunit: ALMA Study Confirms What’s Robbing Galaxies of Their Star-Forming Gas 14 October 2021 The Baseline 9: How Do Exoplanets Form? Mind The Gaps! 22 September 2021 ALMA Scientists Uncover the Mystery of Early Massive Galaxies Running on Empty 21 September 2021 IMAGE RELEASE: Moon’s Tycho Crater Revealed in Intricate Detail 15 September 2021 ALMA Reveals Carbon-Rich, Organic Birth Environments of Planets 7 September 2021 New Receivers Achieve First Light, Set Record for Observational Capabilities at ALMA 2 September 2021 Stellar Collision Triggers Supernova Explosion See All News NRAO TELESCOPES ALMA Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in the Atacama Desert, Chile, is the most complex observatory ever built. Visit ALMA VLBA 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. VLA Very Large Array The VLA is the most advanced radio telescope array on Earth, a customizable interferometer that spans up to 22 miles across. Visit VLA NRAO BLOGS Black Holes: A Mystery at the Center of Astronomy Alberto Bolatto | 24 November 2021 In the past century, black holes have transformed from being a mere curiosity into a key element of modern… Black Holes and Cosmic Clocks: How the Next Generation Very Large Array Will Test General Relativity Joseph Lazio | 21 September 2021 In the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius, in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, sits a supermassive… Dusty Doughnuts from your Local Cosmic Café Nan Janney | 2 August 2021 On a clear dark night, the plane of our Galaxy can be seen arching overhead, filled with bright stars… Debris Disks: What Can We Learn from the Leftovers of the Planet Formation Process? Jacob White | 11 June 2021 This article was originally published in Medium on March 9, 2021. Some changes have been made to the original… A Scintillating Description of Why Quasars Twinkle. Or, How We Tried to Break the Very Large Array. Jim Lovell | 24 May 2021 One of the great things about being a radio astronomer is that if you have a good idea, and… Are the Molecules of Life Right-Handed or Left-Handed? Alberto Bolatto | 3 May 2021 Molecules are found in the hard vacuum of interstellar space, in the same places where new stars and planetary… Exploring the Invisible Universe with Cardboard and Aluminum Foil Sam Watchman | 21 March 2021 In November 2020, Oscar Le, a high school teacher from Northern Virginia, contacted us on behalf of one of… All your Base(Lines) are Belong to Us Bill E. Saxton | 3 February 2021 One of the many things shared by the astronomical objects observed by NRAO radio telescopes and its Education and… See All Blog Posts #RADIOIMAGEOFTHEWEEK The Active Galactic Nucleus of 3C 120 Still image from an animation depicting the jets emitted by the black hole in galaxy 3C 120. See Past Images of the Week NRAO Making Waves Announcements and Achievements Prototype SETI Hardware Gets First Data From VLA A system designed to provide streaming data from the VLA to SETI Institute equipment to search for radio transmissions possibly generated by extraterrestrial civilizations has successfully completed its first test. NACtober Showcases Research, Accomplishments of National Astronomy Consortium Participants Kicking off this week, and running throughout the month of October, the annual conference of the National Astronomy Consortium (NAC)—NACtober—will highlight the hard work, research, and accomplishments of the 2021 NAC cohort. IMAGE RELEASE: Moon’s Tycho Crater Revealed in Intricate Detail The National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Observatory and National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and Raytheon Intelligence & Space have released new high-resolution images of the Moon, the highest-ever taken from the ground, using new radar technology on the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). NRAO Congratulates Winners of Breakthrough Prize Awards The National Radio Astronomy Observatory congratulates four astronomers who earned Breakthrough Prize Foundation awards for their outstanding research on a collision between two neutron stars. Their work made extensive use of the VLA and VLBA. See Past Announcements EXPLORE + LEARN LEARN Our Solar System We aim radio telescopes at the Sun, planets, moons, and planetesimals in our Solar System. LEARN Black Holes Neither a hole nor really black, a stellar black hole is actually the superdense remains of a very big star that imploded, violently collapsing in on itself, during a supernova. LEARN The Mysterious Dark Energy Dark Energy has become the largest factor in the equations that may govern the Universe. Connect with NRAO 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. 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