Green Bank Telescope Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is the world's largest fully mobile radio telescope. It is part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank, West Virginia (USA). The telescope honors the name of Senator Robert C. Byrd.
The telescope sits at the heart of the United States national radio quiet zone, a large area where all radio transmissions are either limited or banned outright, to help the telescope function properly.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Related topics 3 External links |
The telescope is unusual in that the mirror is not a symmetrical dish, but is a section of a much larger parabolic figure with the receiver where the prime focus would be of the entire mirror. As a result, the support for the receiver does not in any way obscure the mirrors view of the sky.
This is an Article on Green Bank Telescope. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Green Bank Telescope Description
The surface area of the GBT is 100 by 110 meters with a separate actuator for each of the 2,004 surface panels. Infrared lasers are used to measure the position of each plate so that if one is to move even slightly out of place the actuator can move it back into it proper posistion, resulting in a surface that can be kept in an optimal state throughout an observation with the telescope. A laser alignment system also allows for precise knowledge of the posisitioning of the dish by utilizing reflectors in the mountains and around the base of the telescope itself.Related topics
External links