a part of Torun Centre for Astronomy at Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics of the Nicolaus Copernicus University
Astronomers traditionally looked at the sky by studying the light generated by objects like stars and planets. However, it was later discovered that these objects also emit radio waves, which often contain more detailed information. Since this discovery, scientists have developed sophisticated equipment, including powerful radio telescopes, to detect and measure these waves. By looking at the sky with both radio and optical telescopes, we have gained a much more complete view of the Universe.
The science that deals with the study of the Universe by means of radio waves.
The study of electromagnetic radiation from outside the earth's atmosphere.
The science of astronomy using radio waves instead of light waves.
Study of the Universe using radio waves.
Radio astronomy involves exploring space by examining radio waves from outer space. Radio astronomy was pioneered by Karl Gothe Jansky, who in1932 first detected radio waves from a cosmic source - in the central region of the Milky Way Galaxy. Gote Reber (a ham radio operator) made the first true radio telescope (usiing a 32-foot diameter parabolic dish to focus the radio waves) after reading of Jansky's discoveries.
Radio astronomy is the study of celestial phenomena through measurement of radio waves emitted by physical processes occurring in space. Radio waves have a much greater wavelength than light waves. In order to receive signals with large signal-to-noise ratio, radio astronomy requires a large antenna or an array of smaller antennas working together (for example, the Very Large Array).