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 uses a variety of equipment to periodically to monitor the sky at different frequencies and look for interference.
RFI monitoring scans from the Green Bank Telescope and the CHIME outrigger are publicly available through NRAO’s Dynamic Radio Interference Finding Tool (DRIFT). We strongly encourage all current and future users of any site telescope to use DRIFT to determine the feasibility of their research projects.
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.