Radio frequency interference (RFI) occurs when human-made radio signals—such as from cell phones, public safety, and satellites—drown out or contaminate the incredibly weak, natural cosmic signals astronomers are trying to detect. Understanding and acting on these signals is an important step in spectrum management. The Green Bank Observatory accommodates several radio telescopes and a spectrum monitor on site, most of which are used periodically to monitor the sky at different frequencies to look for interference.
The monitoring scans are publicly available at NRAO’s Dynamic Radio Interference Finding Tool (DRIFT). Additional information on DRIFT, such as plot types, can be found here. We strongly encourage all current and future users of any site telescope to use DRIFT to determine the feasibility of their research projects. Additionally, static images of GBT RFI scans from 2019 – 2024 can be found here. Please reach out through the online helpdesk if you have any questions regarding the site RFI environment or reach out directly to the GBO scientific staff members aiding in the scientific project.