The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) took the Observatory’s new portable Starlab planetarium on…
Danielle Rowland, Senior Broadening Participation Programs Manager, was recently appointed as Native Nations Engagement Lead of the U.S. National…
Nestled in the woods near North Liberty, Iowa, this antenna can’t be seen from the road, but is occasionally…
Are you planning on viewing the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024? Please make sure you are doing so…
Transit Method When a planet passes directly between a star and its observer, it dims the star’s light by…
SuperKnova is a project to provide learning opportunities in radio technology for students in a way that is inclusive…
Three million years ago the fault regions of the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains began their thunderous rise. Their…
#RADIOIMAGEOFTHEWEEK
VLBI Network of Telescopes Bring Astronomers Closer to Understanding Dark Matter
Gravitational lensing allows astronomers to observe incredibly distant radio sources that cannot be directly detected. By observing how the radio emission from the distant source is bent by the gravitational field of a massive object - the lens - located between the source and the Earth, it is possible to determine information about both the distant source and the lens. In this study, the researchers used the radio source MG J0751+2716, at such great a distance that it has taken the light 11.7 billion years to reach the Earth. This object is comprised of a black hole with a powerful ejection of material, known as a jet. The lens consists of a group of galaxies located 3.9 billion light-years from Earth. The image was created by combining data from a global network of radio telescopes, including the continental Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), European VLBI Network and Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia United, in an effort to address some of the fundamental questions about dark matter. The international team of astronomers aim to determine how much dark matter is present in galaxies and how it is distributed. According to current theories, a galaxy, such as our Milky Way, should have thousands of dwarf galaxies orbiting around it, yet to date only approximately 100 have been found.NRAO Making Waves
Announcements and Achievements
-
NSF NRAO Very Large Array to Host Fall Open House October 11
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) invites the public to the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) for its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly event offers a rare chance to explore one of the world’s most iconic astronomical observatories through guided tours, talks by experts, hands-on learning activities, and more.
-
National Radio Astronomy Observatory Announces Bipartisan Capital Outlay Funding for Next Generation Learning Center
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is proud to announce a significant milestone in advancing STEAM education in rural New Mexico. This achievement is the result of dedicated advocacy by Socorro County and Associated Universities, Inc., whose efforts—combined with bipartisan support from state legislators and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham—have secured 1ドル.78 million in capital outlay funding for the Next Generation Learning Center at the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array in Socorro County.
-
NSF’s ongoing technical coordination with satellite constellation operators
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a new coordination agreement with AST SpaceMobile to address the impact…
-
The Very Large Array to Host Fall Open House on October 12, 2024
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is thrilled to invite the public to the NSF Very Large Array (NSF VLA) Fall Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Welcome to central New Mexico where the National Radio Astronomy Observatory operates the world’s most versatile radio telescope, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. Here, we have put together a collection of exclusive video tours we call the VLA Explorer.