Radio astronomy is the only other branch of astronomy that can be accurately performed from Earth because of the effects of the Earth's atmosphere. It started in 1931 when a natural source of radio waves in the sky was accidentally discovered. The study of the sky at radio wavelengths has not only revealed a vast amount of information about our galaxy and our universe, but has also opened the door for astronomers to study space in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum contains wavelengths that are 0.1 meter or longer. Astronomers use special telescopes to observe the universe at radio wavelengths. Their telescopes receive radio waves from celestial objects. These waves are then converted into data that computers display, allowing the astronomers to create either a visible or audible representation of the data they've collected.