The Dominion Radio Astophysical Observatory (DRAO)

The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) was built by White Lake near Penticton, B.C., in 1960. At the time, it was mostly the work of an astronomer named Carlyle Smith Beals, who wanted to expand the knowledge about astrophysics in Canada.

This observatory contains thee telescopes; the seven-antenna interferometric Synthesis Telescope, the single-antenna 26 meter Telescope, and the Solar Radio Flux Monitor.

At DRAO, the scientists study anything from the solar system, to extragalactic research.

The 26 meter telescope is used for many different studies, and the Flux telescope is only used while the sun is above the horizon. The 26 meter telescope was used to record the very first long baseline interferometry, in 1968.

The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is a member of IGPS (the International Galactic Plane Survey). They are also a primary observing site for a major part of the IGPS, which is mapping out a 140 degree long strip along the Galactic plane in the outer galaxy.