View of Green Bank’s 40-foot telescope from the front

Home
Gallery
View of Green Bank’s 40-foot telescope from the front

The 40-foot radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia became the world’s first automated radio telescope on December 14, 1961. It is still in use today by students throughout the year as a research and training telescope.

Credit: B. Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF

Facebook

Twitter

Historical Radio Telescopes Radio Telescopes and Technology

Download Image

Hi-Res Full-Size	1733 x 1920	2 MB
Screensize File	924 x 1024

Media Use Policy

More Historical Radio Telescopes Images & Videos

Night Sky Over the 140-foot Telescope

Building the 140-foot Telescope at Green Bank

Drilling Bolt Holes on the 140 Foot Telescope

The second 85-foot telescope of Green Bank Observatory

Black and white image of the second 85-foot telescope

Hauling an 85-foot telescope around Green Bank

The third 85-foot telescope

Underside of the GBT

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.