Bleien Radio Observatory

Bleien Radio Observatory is a research facility near Gränichen that houses two parabolic antennas measuring 7 and 5 meters across. These telescopes sit roughly 100 meters apart and receive radio waves from space across frequencies ranging from 10 MHz to 5 GHz.

ETH Zurich established the facility in 1979 under Professor Arnold Benz, introducing the first fully digitized remote-controlled receiver system. This technology marked a turning point in Swiss radio astronomy.

The observatory serves as a center for scientific education where students and researchers conduct radio astronomy observations and develop new technologies. Visitors can directly experience how modern instruments are used to study the sky.

The site is publicly accessible, but visits should be arranged in advance to avoid disrupting research activities. The best time to visit is during clear weather when the installations are most visible.

From 2005 to 2015, the observatory held the largest bandwidth capacity worldwide for solar radio observations. This exceptional capability allowed researchers to record solar flares and magnetic phenomena with unmatched detail.

Location: Gränichen

Inception: 1979

Elevation above the sea: 469 m

Website: https://ipa.phys.ethz.ch/research/facilities/radioteleskop-bleien.html

GPS coordinates: 47.33989,8.11161

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:44