National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has operated as a federally funded US research centre since 1956, with a public-facing site near Charlottesville, Virginia, welcoming visitors interested in radio astronomy.

About the National Radio Astronomy Observatory

NRAO is funded by the US National Science Foundation and operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. It designs, builds and operates radio telescopes used by astronomers around the world to study everything from star formation to the growth of galaxies.

Telescopes & research

NRAO's instruments include the Very Large Array in New Mexico, an interferometer of dishes that can be spread across 22 miles of desert; the Very Long Baseline Array, ten linked antennas spanning more than 5,000 miles across the United States; and, through international partnership, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) high in the Chilean Andes. Together these facilities support research into black holes, galaxy formation and the evolution of the cosmos, with observing time awarded competitively on scientific merit.

Location & getting there

The Virginia site sits near Charlottesville and is linked to the University of Virginia's Department of Astronomy, which runs a public observatory night programme from the location.

Visiting

Public observing nights are organised through the University of Virginia's Department of Astronomy programme; phone ahead or check the official website for the current schedule, as sessions depend on weather and availability.

See your named star from here

NRAO's telescopes work in radio wavelengths rather than visible light, but the exact coordinates that come with a Star Register certificate work the same way everywhere: any observatory with a telescope aimed at the right RA and Dec can help you find your star. Explore the star catalogue or pick a naming package to get started.