Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Radio astronomical observatory in Skaha West, Canada
The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is a radio astronomy research facility in the Skaha West area, near Penticton in British Columbia, Canada. The site holds several instruments, including the John A. Galt Telescope, a dish about 26 meters (85 feet) wide, a synthesis telescope made of seven smaller antennas, and the CHIME instrument, which consists of four large cylindrical metal structures.
The observatory opened in 1960 near White Lake, driven by astronomer Carlyle Smith Beals, who wanted to build Canada's capacity in radio astronomy. In 1968, it carried out the first successful very long baseline interferometry experiment, linking its antenna with another in Ontario over a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles).
The observatory occasionally holds open days where visitors can walk near the antennas and speak with staff about ongoing research. These events give a direct sense of how radio astronomy works in practice.
Access to the main parts of the site may be limited outside of organized events, so it is worth checking in advance whether tours or public visits are available. The location is set in a rural area, so having your own transport makes the trip easier.
A T-shaped telescope built on the site in the 1960s used around 1,700 cedar posts to support the wires that formed its antenna surface. Since 1990, the observatory has taken on the daily task of monitoring the Sun's radio output, continuing work that had been done by a facility in Ontario that closed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
