Radio Telescopes

A radio telescope at the VLA Radio Observatory

When you think of the word "radio," you probably think of listening to music from the radio in a car or in your room. Scientists, though, may think of another radio device -- a radio telescope. Radio telescopes are used to detect and measure radio waves. Since scientists are not able to physically see radio waves with the naked eye, astronomers must be able to convert this radiation into something that is observable. In this topic, you will explore radio telescopes, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Essential Questions

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of radio telescopes?