Green Bank Observatory, Radio astronomy research facility in Green Bank, United States
The Green Bank Observatory is a research facility housing multiple radio telescopes, with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope featuring a 100-meter (328 ft) collecting area as its largest instrument. The equipment here is designed to detect faint radio waves from distant cosmic sources and transmit the data to control rooms for analysis.
The facility was established in 1956 as part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, operating under that framework for six decades. In 2016, it became an independent nonprofit organization and continued its research mission under new management.
This facility serves as a working laboratory where radio signals from deep space are captured and analyzed daily. The place embodies humanity's ongoing effort to listen to and understand what lies beyond our planet.
Visitors can join guided tours to learn about the telescopes and research activities at the site. Before visiting, check the website for current opening hours, tour availability, and any special programs or observation sessions.
The facility operates within the National Radio Quiet Zone, an area with strict restrictions on electronic devices and transmissions to prevent interference. This rare environmental control allows the extremely sensitive instruments here to detect the faintest signals from space without disturbance.
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