Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope
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Telescope Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope |
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| GMRT at sunset | |
| Type | Radio interferometer |
| Location | 80 km north of Pune , India ,
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| height | 588 m |
| Geographic coordinates | 19 ° 5 '47.5 " N , 74 ° 2' 59.1" E |
| wavelength | 151, 235, 325, 610 and 1000 to 1420 MHz |
| Aperture | 30 × 45 m
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| Specialty | world's largest radio telescope for wavelengths in the meter range |
The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) , located about 80 km north of Pune , India , at an altitude of 588 m, is the world's largest radio telescope for wavelengths in the meter range.
GMRT is a radio interferometer consisting of 30 antennas, each with a reflector diameter of 45 m. 14 antennas are scattered over a central area of about one square kilometer. The remaining 16 are distributed along the outgoing Y-shaped arms and result in a maximum base length of 25 km. GMRT is operated by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research .
GMRT has receivers for frequencies of 151, 235, 325, 610 and 1000–1420 MHz, a sixth originally planned 50 MHz was not implemented. Due to the relatively low level of radio interference generated by humans at the location and the large antennas, it is more powerful than the Very Large Array at low frequencies . At these wavelengths, a thin metal mesh can be used inexpensively as a reflector.