Featured Destination Story
Green Bank Science Center and Observatory
The National Radio Quiet Zone, encompassing parts of West Virginia and Virginia, is a remarkable area established to protect sensitive scientific research. This zone covers approximately 13,000 square miles and is one of the largest quiet zones in the world. Within its boundaries, strict regulations are enforced to limit electromagnetic interference from radio frequency transmissions, such as those from cell phones, Wi-Fi networks, and other wireless devices. This ensures cutting-edge research in radio astronomy without interference.
At the heart of the National Radio Quiet Zone lies the Green Bank Observatory, which is renowned for its groundbreaking work in radio astronomy. The observatory boasts some of the world's largest fully steerable radio telescopes, including the iconic Green Bank Telescope (GBT), which is the largest fully maneuverable radio telescope on Earth. Scientists at the Green Bank Observatory use these telescopes to study a wide range of celestial phenomena, from distant galaxies and pulsars to cosmic microwave background radiation. Their research has contributed significantly to our understanding of the universe, including the discovery of new astronomical objects and the mapping of the cosmic microwave background, which provides crucial insights into the early universe's structure and formation.
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