Management and operations for National Radio Astronomy Observatory, NRAO, is one discussion item at the upcoming meeting of the NSB. The NRAO enables forefront research into the invisible universe. Radio astronomy has profoundly changed and enlarged our understanding of our universe, enabling new discoveries, opening new celestial windows, revealing an otherwise invisible universe. This shell of hot gas, visible via the NRAO, is the remains of a star which exploded around 30,000 years ago. Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media. The NRAO is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the terms of a cooperative agreement between the NSF and Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), a science management corporation.

Credit: NRAO/AUI