National Radio Astronomy Observatory

RADIO ASTRONOMY IS:

Revealing the Invisible Universe

Radio astronomy is the study of celestial objects that give off radio waves. With radio astronomy, we study astronomical phenomena that can be invisible.

Learn more about radio astronomy!

RADIO ASTRONOMY IS:

In the News!

Our cutting-edge telescopes are used to make new discoveries every day.

Find the latest discoveries here.

RADIO ASTRONOMY IS:

Exploration

Interactively learn about our Universe, our telescopes, and the people who make it all possible.

Start Exploring Now!

Radio Astronomy in the News

Possible triggered star formation in Orion.

Star’s Birth May Have Triggered Another Star Birth, Astronomers Say

June 20, 2017 | News Release

New evidence from the VLA suggests that a jet of material ejected by a young star may have triggered the formation of a second, younger star.

Chaotically Magnetized Cloud Is No Place to Build a Star, or Is It?

June 14, 2017 | News Release

To make a star, the conditions inside interstellar gas clouds have to be “just right.” When it comes to a cloud’s magnetic fields, however, those conditions may range from powerful and orderly to weak and chaotic, new ALMA observations suggest.

Radio-emitting mini-halo in Perseus Cluster

VLA Gives New Insight Into Galaxy Cluster’s Spectacular “Mini-Halo”

June 13, 2017 | News Release

New VLA images are helping astronomers understand the origin of a giant radio-emitting structure in a cluster of galaxies.

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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 Large Array

The VLA is the most advanced radio telescope array on Earth, a customizable interferometer that spans up to 22 miles across.

Learn About All NRAO's Telescopes

Image of the Week:

A Wobbling Jet

Inside the famous Manatee Nebula (W50) lies the black hole remnant of the supernova that formed it, called SS 433. Its jets wobble as they force charged particles outward. Over time, this creates a swirling tracer pattern to the radio waves picked up by the Very Large Array (VLA).

Special Features

Cosmic Coloring

Color different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum using multiwavelength images from space.

Milky Way Explorer

Check out our Milky Way Explorer, a guided trip through our spiral Galaxy and its neighborhood. You choose where to explore, and a radio astronomer talks to you about each stop.

Role Models

Hear from folks who work at NRAO about the many paths we've taken to get here. You don’t have to be a scientist or engineer to be part of our exciting mission!

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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.