radio telescope

noun

: a radio receiver-antenna combination used for observation in radio astronomy

Examples of radio telescope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Astronomers usually use radio telescopes to detect carbon monoxide, which is available in much lower quantities in molecular clouds, as a proxy. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2025 And that makes the far side of the Moon the ideal location for a dark-age-hunting radio telescope, free from human interference and noise. ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025 These regions are often rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and scientists usually spot them with radio telescopes that detect carbon monoxide. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025 No messages have ever been received, but in 1977 a radio telescope in Ohio detected a strong signal that lasted only for a minute. Chris Impey, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for radio telescope

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of radio telescope was in 1947

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Cite this Entry

“Radio telescope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radio%20telescope. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

radio telescope

noun
: a radio receiver-antenna combination used for observation in radio astronomy

More from Merriam-Webster on radio telescope

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