Astronomy Fun Fact #63

There’s a 10,000 (!!!) square mile piece of land in West Virginia called the National Radio Quiet Zone.

At the heart of the NRQZ sits a radio astronomy research facility and the largest steerable telescope in the WORLD, the 100 meter Green Bank Telescope.

People who live and work near the center of the NRQZ (within 10 miles) have to abide by strict rules. They can’t use cell phones, WiFi, or microwaves and they have to drive special spark plug-less cars. All of those things produce radiation that could interfere with the scientists’ research.