GREEN BANK, W.Va. – Since its Oct. 17, 1957 groundbreaking ceremony, Green Bank Observatory – in rural Pocahontas County – has been on the forefront of scientific discovery. By 1958, the 85-foot Tatel Telescope was operational. In the decade that followed, four more telescopes were constructed on-site, ranging in diameter from 40-feet, to 300-feet.
In 1991, construction began on the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). At 100-meters in diameter, the GBT is fully steerable, and operates across wavelengths of 0.2 GHz, through 116 GHz. The GBT quickly established itself as the premiere telescope in the world to operate across those wavelengths. And, in 2001, the GBT was utilized in the making of the first-ever detailed topographical radar image of the surface of Venus.
With a total surface area of 2.3 acres, the GBT is large enough to hold two football fields.
The Green Bank Observatory Science Center. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV. History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.History of the Green Bank Observatory. RealWV photo.Entrance to Green Bank Science Center’s Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.Exhibit Hall Green Bank Science Center Exhibit Hall. RealWV photo.
We Are All Made of Stars
A poster on display in the Green Bank Science Center explains that, “Without stars, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Stars produce basic elements, like carbon, that are the foundation of complex molecules that make up life. It is likely that all elements – everything we see, hear, and touch – are created during a star’s life cycle.
“The Green Bank Telescope taught astronomers that the Milky Way is an organic galaxy, dominated by carbon based molecules.”
Play area for the little ones at Green Bank Science Center. RealWV photo. Play area for the little ones at Green Bank Science Center. RealWV photo. Galaxy Gift Shop at the Green Bank Science Center. RealWV photo.Starlight Café at the Green Bank Science Center. RealWV Photo. Starlight Café at the Green Bank Science Center. RealWV Photo. Starlight Café at the Green Bank Science Center. RealWV Photo.
Visit the Green Bank Observatory
The Green Bank Science Center, and Galaxy Gift Shop, are open daily – from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Gift Shop closes at 5:30 p.m.) – through Sept. 2. Beginning Sept. 5, both will be open to the public, Thursday through Monday, from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Admission to the Science Center and Exhibit Hall are free. Guided tours are available for $10 per person. Veterans and active duty service members, as well as children 5-years-old and under, may participate in the guided tours free of charge.
The Robert C. Byrd GBT. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV.The Grote Reber Radio Telescope. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV.First vehicle used for guided tours at the observatory. RealWV photo. The Grote Reber Radio Telescope. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV.View from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.View from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.View from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.Starlight Café from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.View from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.View from the Science Center Observation Deck. RealWV photo.The GBT Observation Deck. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV. Information about the GBT on the Observation Deck. RealWV photo. Satellite array beyond the GBT Observation Deck. RealWV photo. One of the observatory’s telescopes. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV. One of the observatory’s telescopes. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV. One of the observatory’s telescopes. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV. The Green Bank Observatory. Photo by Matthew Young, RealWV.
