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Radio astronomy explores the Universe in the radio wave range (wavelengths from fractions of a millimeter to tens of meters). Radio telescopes consist of an antenna and a sensitive receiver, often combined into interferometers to achieve high angular resolution. Key sources: synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons in magnetic fields (supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei), spectral lines of hydrogen (21 cm) and molecules.

History

In 1932, Karl Jansky accidentally discovered a radio signal from the center of the Galaxy, and since then astronomers have been building radio telescopes.

How it works

Giant dish antennas, like ears, catch cosmic radio echoes, amplify them, and translate them into images—where it's brighter, the source is stronger.

💡 Jansky's first radio telescope was built from wood and wire, while today the largest radio telescope, FAST in China, has a diameter of 500 meters. It is so sensitive that it picks up signals from the edge of the observable universe.
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Jocelyn Bell BurnellArno Penzias
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cosmic microwave backgroundfast radio burstinterferometerpulsarquasarsynchrotron radiationVLBI
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