Switching out the 140-foot telescope’s receivers
The 140-foot telescope in Green Bank was built to house its receivers at the Prime Focus, the point above the parabolic dish where the radio waves come together. To switch receivers of different wavelengths, the 43-meter dish was lowered, a tower was rolled to the Prime Focus, and staff climbed it to make the careful swap. Now, the telescope’s receivers nestle in the center of the dish, and a small reflecting mirror sits at the prime focus.
Credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF
