The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in Green Bank, West Virginia, US is the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. It is situated in the National Radio Quiet Zone, a unique area where authorities limit all radio transmissions to avoid emissions toward the GBT. The location of the telescope within the Radio Quiet Zone allows for the detection of faint radio-frequency signals from the universe, which man-made signals might otherwise mask. The observatory borders National Forest land, and the Allegheny Mountains shield it from some radio interference. The telescope’s location has been the site of important radio astronomy telescopes since 1957. It currently houses seven additional telescopes, and in spite of its somewhat remote location, receives about 40,000 visitors each year, from high school students to PhD candidates to visiting researchers. Since October 1, 2016, the telescope has been operated by the newly separated Green Bank Observatory to deal with pending budget cuts. The telescope honors the name of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd who represented West Virginia and who pushed the funding of the telescope through Congress.
Michael Holstine on the Green Bank Telescope and listening to the whispers of the universe
In Other News…
AUI and NRAO Announce 2022 NAC Bridge Scholarship Recipients
Pride Month Statement
2022 AUI Scholarship Recipients
Astronomers Reveal First Image of the Black Hole at the Heart of Our Galaxy
Scientists Find Elusive Gas From Post-starburst Galaxies Hiding in Plain Sight
Applications Accepted for 2022 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP).
Inspiring, Retaining and Promoting Female Talent in STEM Careers
Retaining and promoting female talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is a goal that must be embraced by large scientific facilities, civil society, academia and the private sector.
NRAO Researcher Receives Prestigious Engineering Award
Matthew Morgan, a scientist and research engineer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Central Development Laboratory, has received a prestigious engineering award for work that has beneficial applications far beyond its original purpose in radio astronomy.
Big Astronomy Hosts Live Talk and Q&A with Astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor
On Friday, February 4 at 7:00 pm EST, join astronaut, geoscientist, explorer and space artist Dr. Sian Proctor for a live talk and Q&A hosted by Big Astronomy.
NRAO Director Tony Beasley Honored as Lifetime AAAS Fellow
Tony Beasley, Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and AUI Vice President for Radio Astronomy Operations, was today elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).