Photo – Page 71 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Technicians and the GBT's Prime Focus Receiver

The Receiver Has Landed

After a nearly 400-foot descent from the prime focus of the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), this large receiver arrives safely on the ground. Technicians will remove its cradle and get ready to wheel the unit into a truck for a 2-mile drive back to the electronics lab.

Technicians and the GBT's Prime Focus Reciever

Rocking the Cradle

After a nearly 400-foot descent from the prime focus of the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), this large receiver arrives safely on the ground. Technicians remove its cradle and get ready to wheel the unit into a truck for a 2-mile drive back to the electronics lab.

Motor Maintenance at the GBT

The Green Bank Telescope was constructed in the 1990s, beginning with its huge circular track and support. The track goes 25 feet into the ground to remain sturdy and level. In this photo, contract engineers and staff are working on one of the truck motors. The GBT’s four trucks drive the 17-million pound telescope around on this circle. Each truck has four wheels, meaning each wheel supports one million pounds.

Green Bank Engineer John Shelton and the GBT's track

Careful Inspection of the GBT Track

Green Bank Engineer John Shelton carefully examines the metal plate that runs around the track of the Green Bank Telescope. The track goes 25 feet into the ground to remain sturdy and level. The GBT’s four trucks drive the 17-million pound telescope around on this circle. Each truck has four wheels, meaning each wheel supports one million pounds. Maintenance of this track is critical to the accuracy of the GBT’s observations.

Inspecting the GBT Track

The Green Bank Telescope was constructed in the 1990s, beginning with its huge circular track and support. In this photo, contract engineers are inspecting one of the GBT’s four trucks that drive the 17-million pound telescope in a circle. Each truck has four wheels, meaning each wheel supports one million pounds. The track goes 25 feet into the ground to remain sturdy and level. Metal covers in between the trucks protect the track from snow and dirt.

Technician working on a GBT azimuth track motor

Wiring a Gear Motor on the GBT’s Azimuth Track

The tilting gear of the Green Bank Telescope is driven by four motors. A telescope technician is doing maintenance on one of those motors.

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.
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