Radio telescopes

China Publishes, Then Deletes Report of Potential Alien Signals

Observations from a radio telescope almost certainly aren't evidence of aliens, but we'd love to know more about these alleged signals.

Space & Spaceflight Kevin Hurler Jun 15

Illustration: Sebastian Zentilomo/University of Sydney

Strange Radio Signal From Galactic Center Has Astronomers Flummoxed

The signal’s unique pattern could indicate a new kind of stellar object.

Space & Spaceflight Isaac Schultz Oct 12

Image: X-Ray:NASA/CXC/UMass/D. Wang et al.; Radio:NRF/SARAO/MeerKAT

60 Million Stars and Not One Alien Detected

Astrobiologists with the Breakthrough Listen project have released the preliminary results of a SETI survey, in which the team hunted for radio signals along a line of sight that extends toward the galactic center. The search for extraterrestrial radio signals is now in its seventh decade, and we have yet to find any trace of…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky May 3

Cleanup Costs at the Damaged Arecibo Observatory Could Reach $50 Million

A new estimate suggests it’ll cost somewhere between $30 million and $50 million to clean up the mess created by the collapse of the iconic Arecibo Observatory dish late last year, according to an NSF report detailing the aftermath of the disaster and possible next steps. The investigation into the cause of the collapse at…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky Mar 8

Intriguing ‘Life’ Signal on Venus Was Plain Old Sulphur Dioxide, New Research Suggests

Scientists stunned the world last year by claiming to have discovered traces of phosphine in the Venusian clouds. New research suggests this gas—which, excitingly, is produced by microbes—was not actually responsible for the signal they detected. Instead, it was likely sulfur dioxide, a not-so-thrilling chemical. Extraordinary research published in Nature last September is being challenged…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky Jan 28

Gut-Wrenching Photos Show Damage at Arecibo Observatory Following Collapse

Photos of the scene are revealing the extent of the damage at the famous facility.

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky Dec 2

Arecibo Observatory’s Greatest Triumphs

Strategically built inside a sinkhole, the Arecibo Observatory has been at the center of all sorts of scientific breakthroughs for the past 57 years.

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky Nov 20

A Radio Telescope Is Now Scanning Deep Space From the Moon’s Far Side

For the first time in astronomical history, a space-based radio telescope is gathering data from the Moon’s far side, in a location free from Earth’s interference. This collaboration between China and the Netherlands could provide new insights into the conditions of the early universe. The instrument, called the Netherlands-China Low Frequency Explorer (NCLE), is located…

Space & Spaceflight George Dvorsky Dec 2

The World’s Largest Radio Telescope Has a Massive Tourist Problem

In September, China flicked the switch on the world’s largest radio telescope. The unusually large dish in an isolated area of Guizhou province needs radio silence to hone in on potential signs of alien life and distant pulsars, but researchers fear that a huge influx of tourists could be rendering the $180 million dish useless.…

Space & Spaceflight Rhett Jones Aug 24

The World’s Largest Radio Telescope Dish Is Taking Shape Like a Giant Puzzle

Within a year, the world’s current largest single-dish radio telescope, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, will lose its title. It will instead be usurped by this: the Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang County, China. As you can see in this photo taken on November 26th, the construction is well…

Space & Spaceflight Attila Nagy Nov 27

Astronomers Found the Ghost of a Rare Giant Radio Galaxy

Astronomers in India have discovered a very unusual galaxy, and it’s dying. By now, in fact, it’s probably already dead. The new galaxy, known as J021659-044920, is 9 billion light years away from Earth. That means it’s really old in cosmic terms (but not quite as old as the oldest object astronomers have ever found,…

Space & Spaceflight Kiona Smith-Strickland Nov 8

China is Building an Absolutely Massive Radio Telescope

Construction is well underway on what will become the world’s largest radio telescope. Once complete, the half-kilometer-wide dish will explore the origins of the Universe and scour the skies for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. Located in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope—aka “FAST”—is being constructed on a naturally formed bowl-like valley. It’s…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 24

How to Turn An Old Satellite Dish Into a Working Radio Telescope

Radio telescopes, which you may remember Jodie Foster intently listening to for signs of alien life in Contact, pluck out radio waves from far away space. Ordinary communications satellite dishes also pick up radio waves, but of manmade origin. So hmm, how easily can you convert one into another? It’s totally possible, according to New…

Tech News Sarah Zhang Jul 23

22 Amazing Observatories Where Our Radio Eyes Watch the Universe

Humans can only see visible light—the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. That’s why so hard to study celestial objects hidden behind cosmic dust. But radio astronomy reveals those parts of the Universe that can’t be seen in visible light—and the secrets of dust-shrouded galaxies like our lovely Milky…

Space & Spaceflight Attila Nagy Feb 25

The World’s Biggest Telescope Is Finally Online

With the arrival of the 54th—and final—12-meter wide radio telescope, the single largest astronomical project humanity has ever under taken can finally begin peering into the heavens at full strength. The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), a massive radio telescope array, will provide an unprecedented view of interstellar space where giant gas clouds slowly form…

Space & Spaceflight Andrew Tarantola Oct 1

The Massive Radio Telescope That Peers Into the Universe’s Darkest Corners

The 13,000 square-mile National Radio Quiet Zone is home to the Green Bank Telescope. The 2-acre, 16-million pound dish is the largest, fully steerable radio telescope in the world. And, as this gorgeous video by Motherboard highlights, it might be in danger. Researchers point the telescope at the sky to look for everything from black…

Space & Spaceflight Mario Aguilar Sep 28

These Giant Radio Telescopes Tune in to the Stars

The visible light comprises a minuscule fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Radio telescopes allow us to observe what cannot be seen, like microwave background radiation—the echo of the Big Bang. Our friends at Oobject have assembled 18 of the most expansive intergalactic listening stations. Be sure to also check out these incredible planetarium projectors,…

Space & Spaceflight David Galbraith - Oobject.com Mar 16

Help Save the Arecibo Observatory: ET Is Counting on You

The Arecibo Observatory has been plagued with budget problems for years now, but it appears that the future of the world’s largest radio telescope is looking bleaker than ever with cuts looming that could shut down the project for good. That grim reality has prompted the guys behind SETI@home to call out to the public…

Space & Spaceflight Sean Fallon Jul 7

China Publishes, Then Deletes Report of Potential Alien Signals

Strange Radio Signal From Galactic Center Has Astronomers Flummoxed

60 Million Stars and Not One Alien Detected

Cleanup Costs at the Damaged Arecibo Observatory Could Reach $50 Million

Intriguing ‘Life’ Signal on Venus Was Plain Old Sulphur Dioxide, New Research Suggests

Gut-Wrenching Photos Show Damage at Arecibo Observatory Following Collapse

Arecibo Observatory’s Greatest Triumphs

A Radio Telescope Is Now Scanning Deep Space From the Moon’s Far Side

The World’s Largest Radio Telescope Has a Massive Tourist Problem

The World’s Largest Radio Telescope Dish Is Taking Shape Like a Giant Puzzle

Astronomers Found the Ghost of a Rare Giant Radio Galaxy

China is Building an Absolutely Massive Radio Telescope

How to Turn An Old Satellite Dish Into a Working Radio Telescope

22 Amazing Observatories Where Our Radio Eyes Watch the Universe

The World’s Biggest Telescope Is Finally Online

The Massive Radio Telescope That Peers Into the Universe’s Darkest Corners

These Giant Radio Telescopes Tune in to the Stars

Help Save the Arecibo Observatory: ET Is Counting on You

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