National Radio Astronomy Observatory - National Radio Astronomy Observatory

NEWS + FEATURES

13 September 2018

VLBA Measures Asteroid’s Characteristics

Astronomers used the VLBA in an unusual way to learn new details about an asteroid’s size, shape, and orbit.

6 September 2018

Fierce Winds Quench Wildfire-like Starbirth in Far-flung Galaxy

5 September 2018

Radio Observations Confirm Superfast Jet of Material From Neutron Star Merger

17 August 2018

First Science with ALMA’s Highest-Frequency Capabilities

7 August 2018

Observatory Receives Funds to Repair St. Croix Radio Telescope

2 August 2018

VLA Detects Possible Extrasolar Planetary-Mass Magnetic Powerhouse

30 July 2018

Pair of Colliding Stars Spill Radioactive Molecules into Space

26 July 2018

Enduring ‘Radio Rebound’ Powered by Jets from Gamma-Ray Burst

12 July 2018

VLA Gives Tantalizing Clues About Source of Energetic Cosmic Neutrino

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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

Photo of ten VLA antennas pointing at a cloudy sky at twilight.

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

NRAO Meets the Dragon! Dragon Con, That Is

Charles Blue |

15 September 2018

Superheroes, archenemes, actors, and animated characters galore… what do they have in common with dark matter, star formation, and…

Place of Departure: Careers in discovery are not constrained to astronomers alone

Stephen Case |

1 September 2018

Chajnantor is a name given to a plateau in the high Atacama Desert. In the language of the region’s…

Day and night, we’re mapping the sky (and producing terabytes of data)

Brian Kent and Joseph Masters |

20 August 2018

The Very Large Array Sky Survey is observing 33,885 square degrees of the sky over seven years, mapping 82…

Tick Tock, Pulsating Star

Rebecca Charbonneau |

6 August 2018

On this day in history, August 6, 1967, Jocelyn Bell Burnell noticed a bit of “scruff” on the chart…

Astrophotography Adventure in Chile

Samara Nagle |

3 August 2018

If you ever planned a trip to Chile, you already know that the country is one of the best…

The Sound of One Star Crashing: Haunting Melody from the Death of a Star

Charles Blue |

26 July 2018

“Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot…

Higher Ground

Rebecca Ljungren |

29 June 2018

I have spent my entire life at sea level. From the valleys of Ohio to Washington, D.C., I have…

Galaxy Ecosystems: A Grand Ballet

Eddie Edwards |

8 June 2018

In June of 2017, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory invited four artists to a conference at New Mexico Institute…

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#RADIOIMAGEOFTHEWEEK

NRAO Video Webcast: HL Tau

NRAO Director Tony Beasley discusses the impact of ALMA's new high resolution observations of HL Tau.

EXPLORE + LEARN

Our Solar System

We aim radio telescopes at the Sun, planets, moons, and planetesimals in our Solar System.

What is Radio Astronomy?

We see the world around us, because our eyes detect visible light, a type of electromagnetic radiation. Objects on Earth and in space also emit other types of EM radiation that cannot be seen by the human eye, such as radio waves.

Cosmic Coloring Compositor

Color different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum using multiwavelength images from space. Create your own background for your favorite device.

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 progess 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.