Photo – Page 26 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The 40-foot Telescope Gets a Control Building

The 40-foot telescope, the world’s first fully automated radio telescope, observing in Green Bank next to its new underground control room.

World’s First Automated Radio Telescope

A view of the 40-foot radio telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia, the world’s first automated radio telescope, with its underground control room.

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.

Students Use the 40-foot

The 40-foot telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia is used as an educational instrument.

Sunrise strikes a VLBA, 25m telescope

The Sun rises over a 25-meter dish antenna of the Very Long Baseline Array, our collection of ten identical radio dish antennas working together as one telescope.

The VLBA antennas are placed across the Northern Hemisphere from Hawai’i to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and together they form a dedicated array 5,351 miles across.

VLBA Pie Town antenna surrounded by snow-covered landscape

The Pie Town, New Mexico antenna is one of ten identical antennas, which are located throughout the northern hemisphere, that are part of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). Each of the VLBA’s radio telescopes stand at approximately 25 meters high and are spread out over 5,351-mile long baseline.

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.