What is Radio astronomy?
[[File:USA.NM.VeryLargeArray.02.jpg|thumb|350px|The [[Very Large Array]], a radio [[interference|interferometer]] in [[New Mexico]], [[United States|USA]]]] '''Radio astronomy''' is [[astronomy]] which studies [[Astronomical object|celestial objects]] at [[radio frequency|radio frequencies]]. The first detection of [[radio waves]] from an astronomical object was made in the 1930s. [[Karl Jansky]] found radiation coming from the [[Milky Way]]. Later, other sources of radio emission were found. These include [[star]]s and [[galaxy|galaxies]], as well as entirely new classes of objects, such as [[Radio galaxy|radio galaxies]], [[quasar]]s, [[pulsar]]s, and [[Astrophysical maser|masers]]. The discovery of the [[cosmic microwave background radiation]], evidence for the [[Big Bang|Big Bang theory]], was made through radio astronomy. Radio astronomy is done using large [[Antenna (radio)|radio antennas]]. These are called [[radio telescope]]s. They are used alone, or with multiple linked telescopes. The use of [[interference|interferometry]] allows radio astronomy to achieve high [[angular resolution]].<ref>the ability of any image-forming device (an optical or radio telescope, microscope, camera, or eye) to distinguish small details of an object.</ref> The resolving power of an interferometer is set by the distance between its components, not the size of its components. == Notes == {{reflist}} [[Category:Astronomy]]