Radio Astronomy is the study of radio waves generated by objects in space. Astronomers are able to view these wave through a radio telescope. Examples of radio sources in the universe are:

     - Pulsars
     - Quasars
     - Stars
     - Sun and the 9 planets in our solar system
     - Galaxies

There are 3 reasons for radio emissions:

1) Synchrotron Radiation - This is caused by particles that have so much energy that they are almost as fast as light. They gain this energy when they travel through the magnetic field of the pulsar. The radiation of these sources is on many different wavelengths.

2) Thermal Radiation - All objects emit this form of radiation due to the motion of their electrons. By watching the spectrum of the object astronomers are able to tell how hot an object in space is. The radiation of these sources is on many different wavelengths.

3) Line Radiation - Unlike both synchrotron and thermal radiation, line radiation emits radiation on a certain wave length that is dictated by the atom or molecule that is giving it off. Therefore, different gases emit on various wavelengths. By observing the lines created by the object, astronomers can then tell what elements the object in space is made of.

Radio Astronomy has increased our knowledge of the present, past and future of the universe. An amazing fact is that radio astronomers have been able to detect background radiation thought to be from the Big Bang explosion, that happened over 10 billion years ago.