This is the Grote Reber Radio Telescope used by him to map the radio universe. His first receiver tuned to 3300 MHz and the second to 900 MHz did not pick up anything. His third receiver tuned to 160 MHz (1.9 meters wavelength) picked up the Milky Way and the Sun. Note that neutral atomic hydrogen radiates at a frequency of 1420.41 MHz (21.11 centimeters wavelength).
Reber built the telescope in his backyard in Wheaton, Il in 1937. Mirror is 31.4 feet in diameter, focuses radio waves to the receiver 20 feet above the dish. Dish size was determined by the size of the wood panels along the backside of the dish he could find at the lumberyard. Modern radio telescopes continue to use his basic design. The telescope was painted red, white, and blue for the nation's bicentennial in 1976.
The next half of the photo album will focus on the Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope.
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last updated: September 13, 2011