Reber Radio Telescope

The Reber Radio Telescope is a radio telescope facility in Green Bank with a parabolic reflector roughly 31 feet in diameter made of iron sheeting mounted on arched rails with railroad wheels for adjusting elevation. The structure uses radial supports and iron sheets to gather and focus radio waves from the sky.

The telescope was built in 1937 by astronomer Grote Reber in Illinois and was the first purpose-built parabolic radio telescope of its kind. It received National Historic Landmark status in 1989 and documents a crucial phase in the history of astronomical observation.

The telescope marks the beginning of radio astronomy in the United States and enabled scientists to observe radio waves from celestial objects like the Milky Way. It represents a turning point in how people could study the universe through methods other than optical observation.

The telescope is located in Green Bank in Pocahontas County and is part of a research facility that welcomes visitors for tours. The best times to visit are on weekends or during regular tour hours when the facility is open to the public.

The structure was built by Grote Reber as a private project rather than as part of a larger institutional facility, making it an independent scientific experiment of its era. This amateur undertaking by a professionally trained astronomer demonstrated how groundbreaking research could emerge from individual dedication.

Location: Pocahontas County

Inception: 1937

Architects: Grote Reber

Part of: Green Bank Observatory

GPS coordinates: 38.43020,-79.81790

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43