Our Array

One more radio telescope observations.

The GBT at Greenbanks is the largest moving radio dish in the world, and it is just about as large as can be made and safely operated. Size is important in this endeavor:

The ability of a radio telescope to distinguish fine detail in the sky, called angular resolution, depends on the wavelength of observations divided by the size of the antenna. In other words, to get finer detailed views of the sky, the result of that simple equation needs to be a very small number.

To solve this the issue of needing an even large antenna, scientists place radio telescopes in an array. This group of telescopes can operate as one.

Isn't that like the church? One of us alone cannot get the job done; in fact, God has not created us to work alone. We are created for community, and God has given us the grace-filled gift of church - our array - so that we can do the work God has called us to do.

Is the church perfect? Far from it - it has too many people in it to be perfect. But it does work for God's purposes, and it is the Body of Christ, here on earth. It is our array.