“ThunderBarb,” that’s the callsign my staff at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) jokingly…
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) took the Observatory’s new portable Starlab planetarium on…
Danielle Rowland, Senior Broadening Participation Programs Manager, was recently appointed as Native Nations Engagement Lead of the U.S. National…
Nestled in the woods near North Liberty, Iowa, this antenna can’t be seen from the road, but is occasionally…
Are you planning on viewing the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024? Please make sure you are doing so…
Transit Method When a planet passes directly between a star and its observer, it dims the star’s light by…
SuperKnova is a project to provide learning opportunities in radio technology for students in a way that is inclusive…
#RADIOIMAGEOFTHEWEEK
Double Boomerang
This image of galaxy PKS 2014-55, located 800 million light years from Earth, was made by NRAO scientist William Cotton with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) MeerKAT telescope. It shows for the first time how the galaxy’s X-shape is actually a ‘double boomerang’. Two powerful jets of radio waves, indicated in blue color, originate from a massive black hole at the center of the galaxy. They each extend 2.5 million light years into space (comparable to the distance between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy, our nearest major neighbour). Eventually, the jets are ‘turned back’ by the pressure of tenuous intergalactic gas. As they flow back towards the central galaxy, they are deflected by its relatively high gas pressure into the shorter, horizontal arms of the boomerang. The background image shows visible light from myriad galaxies in the distant universe.NRAO Making Waves
Announcements and Achievements
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NSF NRAO Highlights Major AI and Astronomy Advances with NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins at 247th American Astronomical Society Meeting
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is celebrating significant progress in the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI), which is advancing the intersection of artificial intelligence and astronomy
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NSF NRAO Very Large Array to Host Fall Open House October 11
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) invites the public to the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) for its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly event offers a rare chance to explore one of the world’s most iconic astronomical observatories through guided tours, talks by experts, hands-on learning activities, and more.
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory Announces Bipartisan Capital Outlay Funding for Next Generation Learning Center
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is proud to announce a significant milestone in advancing STEAM education in rural New Mexico. This achievement is the result of dedicated advocacy by Socorro County and Associated Universities, Inc., whose efforts—combined with bipartisan support from state legislators and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham—have secured $1.78 million in capital outlay funding for the Next Generation Learning Center at the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array in Socorro County.
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NSF’s ongoing technical coordination with satellite constellation operators
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a new coordination agreement with AST SpaceMobile to address the impact…
Welcome to central New Mexico where the National Radio Astronomy Observatory operates the world’s most versatile radio telescope, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. Here, we have put together a collection of exclusive video tours we call the VLA Explorer.
