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Karl Jansky Monument

A monument commemorating the discoverer of radio astronomy.

Holmdel, New Jersey

Added By
Gamma Draconis
Karl Jansky Monument   Gamma Draconis (Atlas Obscura User)
Sculpture representing Jansky’s antenna — August 2023   dominicbenford (Atlas Obscura User)
Karl Jansky Monument   Gamma Draconis (Atlas Obscura User)
Karl Jansky Monument   Gamma Draconis (Atlas Obscura User)
Plaque at the site — August 2023   dominicbenford (Atlas Obscura User)
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About

In 1931, Bell Laboratories physicist and radio researcher Karl Jansky set up a radio antenna on this site for experimental studies.

While gathering data, his results were affected daily by static. He concluded that this was originating from space due to the fact that the time of maximum static changed by four minutes from day to day. By locating the direction where the signal was largest, he discovered that it came from the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

With this first measurement, the field of radio astronomy came into existence. The name "Jansky" was given to the unit of radio flux density.

Related Tags

Radio Science Astronomy

Know Before You Go

The site is on the grounds of Bell Works, a redevelopment of the original Bell Labs site. Turn left on the inner ring road if entering from Crawford Corner Rd. 

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Added By

Gamma Draconis

Published

June 27, 2023

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