Photo – Page 22 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Black and white image of the second 85-foot telescope

The NRAO’s second 85-foot telescope came as a kit from the Blaw-Knox Corporation. It was ready for observation in February 1964 and paired with the Howard E. Tatel 85-foot telescope to form the NRAO’s first array, the Green Bank Interferometer (GBI). The GBI was changeable, because this telescope had its own built-in wheels to allow it to be hauled it up and down a stretch of road leading from the Tatel. Changing the distance between the 85-footers changed the resolution of the array’s combined view: farther equals higher resolution.

Hauling an 85-foot telescope around Green Bank

A bulldozer and a tow tractor pull the 85-2 down the road that spanned the Green Bank Interferometer (GBI), the NRAO’s first array. Built-in tires on this and its twin, the 85-3, allowed an astronomer to change their separation from the stationary Howard E. Tatel 85-foot by getting telescope technicians to haul the telescopes to new distances from each other. Changing the distance between the 85-footers changed the resolution of the array’s combined view: farther equals higher resolution. By adding a third element into the array, the sensitivity of the array increased.

The third 85-foot telescope

The Outlier 85-3, or third 85-foot kit telescope from Blaw-Knox Corporation, was assembled in Green Bank, West Virginia in 1964 as the third member of the Green Bank Interferometer (GBI). All three 85-foot telescopes currently has no observing projects, but can be reactivated if needed.

Underside of the GBT

Standing directly beneath the Green Bank Telescope, the view here is straight up the giant feed arm that supports the GBT’s receivers perched over 480 feet above the ground. The massive 2.3-acre dish surface of the GBT is an enormous bucket for scooping up the weak radio waves that rain down on us from objects in space.

Green Bank Machinists

The machinists and technicians in Green Bank, West Virginia who build, repair, and improve the hardware that is used in our state-of-the-art radio telescopes.

Emmanuel Momjian, Mari Jananian, and Patti JMK Reynolds

Becoming US Citizens at the VLA

NRAO scientist Emmanuel Momjian and his wife, Mari Jananian, display their citizenship certificates and a U.S. flag presented by Socorro City Councilor Peter Romero. They are joined by USCIS Field Office Director Patti JMK Reynolds (left) at the Very Large Array (VLA) site.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. 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 U.S. 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.