Reber's Radio Telescope (1937)

Grote Reber built the world’s first radio reflector in his back yard, in Wheaton, Ill. The parabolic dish collected incoming radio waves and focused them at the receiver, mounted at the focal point of the dish. The receiver amplified the weak signals that it received. This is the basic design of most radio telescopes today.

Although Reber’s telescope is no longer used, it is now on display in Green Bank, W.Va.