National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Research ServicesVirginia, United States201-500 Employees

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a U.S.-based research organization that operates premier radio telescope facilities to advance scientific discovery, train future scientists and engineers, and promote scientific literacy. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, the observatory was established in 1957 by the National Science Foundation and Associated Universities, Inc., and it oversees two flagship arrays: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile and the Jansky Very Large Array in central New Mexico. The ALMA Science Center is housed at NRAO’s headquarters, and the organization’s technology development work is centralized at its Central Development Laboratory in Charlottesville. NRAO emphasizes a diverse staff as central to its mission and to serving the global research community that uses its facilities. In June 2026, the organization expanded its offices to Albuquerque and Socorro, New Mexico, reflecting ongoing growth related to array expansion and partnerships in the region.

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