Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory
Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory

What is DRAO?
The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is a facility for observing and studying radio waves from space. It is equipped with the most sensitive radio receiving equipment currently possible, and the computers and other equipment necessary to control the radio telescopes, collect the data and to process them.

What is Radio Astronomy?
Radio astronomy is the science of studying radio waves from objects in space. Radio waves are like light waves but much longer. They are produced under different conditions, so we can use them to see aspects of the universe that would otherwise be invisible.

What Sorts of Things Do You Observe?
We observe anything in space that gives off radio waves. However we spend most of our time looking at the gas between the stars, the remains of exploded stars, and the Sun.

What Are the Main Projects You're Working On?
We are working on many projects. The main ones are: the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey - a large-scale and very detailed survey of hydrogen gas in our galaxy; Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry - using radio telescopes in space in conjunction with others on the ground to emulate a radio telescope bigger than the Earth; the Solar Monitoring Programme - measuring solar activity and investigating its origins and relationship with processes and conditions in space and here on Earth. There are also some major technical development projects, including the design of a radio telescope for construction in the 21st Century.