RATAN-600

The RATAN-600 (Russian: РАТАН-600 – Радиотелескоп Академии Наук; Radio Telescope of the Academy of Sciences) is a radio telescope located near the village of Zelenchukskaya in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Russia. It consists of a circular primary reflector 576 meters (1,890 ft) in diameter, made up of 895 adjustable radio reflectors.

RATAN-600 can operate in several modes. It can function as a conventional transit instrument where the source drifts across the fixed beam of the antenna as the Earth rotates. Alternatively, with its secondary reflectors, it can track a celestial object by moving them while the primary reflector remains fixed.

The telescope is used for a variety of astronomical observations, including studies of the solar corona, cosmic microwave background, pulsars, and active galactic nuclei. Its multi-frequency capabilities and large effective area allow for detailed spectral and temporal analysis of radio sources.

Commissioned in 1974, RATAN-600 has contributed to many scientific discoveries. It is operated by the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.