About the GBO

The first trailblazers of American radio astronomy called Green Bank Observatory home over 60 years ago. Today, their legacy is alive and well. Nestled in the mountain ranges and farmland of West Virginia, within the National Quiet Zone, radio astronomers are probing the furthest reaches of the universe, in order to discover answers to our most astounding astronomical questions.

Specifically, the Green Bank Observatory:

  • advances the science of radio astronomy through research, discovery, and education;
  • promotes science, technology and engineering to foster a more scientifically literate society;
  • trains the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians;
  • provides state-of-the-art telescopes, instrumentation and expertise;
  • provides the tools and facilities to advance science and technology nationally and internationally.

Green Bank Observatory enables leading edge research at radio wavelengths by offering telescope, facility and advanced instrumentation access to the astronomy community as well as to other basic and applied research communities. With radio astronomy as its foundation, the Green Bank Observatory is a world leader in advancing research, innovation, and education.

To discover

We are here to discover… black holes, stellar birth, pulsars, Hubble constant, big bang energy, Universe expansion, and the origins of life.

To See the Unseen

We are here to harness the power of radio waves to explore astronomy.

To Foster Innovation and Curiosity

We are here to escape from the noise – to learn, share, and teach.
We are on the pursuit of knowledge.

… and talk about Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, too.

To Educate

We are here to encourage your sense of wonder for the unknown beyond our planet.