Parkes Observatory

Parkes Observatory is a radio astronomy facility near the town of Parkes in New South Wales, equipped with a 64-meter (210-foot) parabolic dish antenna. This dish rotates slowly to collect radio signals from distant regions of the universe and relay them to research centers.

The facility opened in 1961 after the Carnegie Corporation and Rockefeller Foundation provided funding for its construction. Over the following decades, several technical upgrades expanded the sensitivity and reach of the telescope.

The site played a central role in broadcasting the first Moon landing in 1969, a moment witnessed by millions of people around the world. Today, a visitor center with exhibitions recalls this historic connection between Australia and space exploration.

The site lies about 20 kilometers north of the town of Parkes and is reached by a well-maintained road. A visitor center offers information and access to exhibitions, while the outdoor area provides a view of the dish structure.

In the early 2000s, researchers here detected Fast Radio Bursts, brief signals of cosmic origin that last only milliseconds. The discovery of these puzzling phenomena opened a new field of study in modern astrophysics.

Location: Parkes

Inception: 1961

Part of: Australia Telescope National Facility

Website: http://parkes.atnf.csiro.au

GPS coordinates: -32.99778,148.26292

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:26