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Session 46 - Radio Astronomy, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - II.
Oral session, Tuesday, June 11
Union Theater,
Upon its completion in 1997, the Green Bank Telescope will be the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope. It is located at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank WV within the boundaries of the National Radio Quiet Zone, an area within which astronomers have some control over transmitters which might be harmful to radio astronomy. The GBT will be 100 meters in diameter, have a solid surface whose panels are accurate to nearly 100\mu, and have motorized actuators supporting the panels which can be adjusted continually to compensate for gravitational and other distortions. The optics is that of an unblocked parabaloid whose focal point is outside of the aperture to reduce the effects of interference and standing waves. An innovative laser metrology system will monitor the position of many parts of the telescope to allow accurate focus and pointing. The initial suite of receivers will cover 25 MHz to 50 GHz.
