Milestone-Proposal:Radio Astronomy
To see comments, or add a comment to this discussion, click here.
Docket #:2024-04
This is a draft proposal, that has not yet been submitted. To submit this proposal, click on the edit button in toolbar above, indicated by an icon displaying a pencil on paper. At the bottom of the form, check the box that says "Submit this proposal to the IEEE History Committee for review. Only check this when the proposal is finished" and save the page.
To the proposer’s knowledge, is this achievement subject to litigation? No
Is the achievement you are proposing more than 25 years old? Yes
Is the achievement you are proposing within IEEE’s designated fields as defined by IEEE Bylaw I-104.11, namely: Engineering, Computer Sciences and Information Technology, Physical Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Mathematics, Technical Communications, Education, Management, and Law and Policy. Yes
Did the achievement provide a meaningful benefit for humanity? Yes
Was it of at least regional importance? Yes
Has an IEEE Organizational Unit agreed to pay for the milestone plaque(s)? Yes
Has the IEEE Section(s) in which the plaque(s) will be located agreed to arrange the dedication ceremony? Yes
Has the IEEE Section in which the milestone is located agreed to take responsibility for the plaque after it is dedicated? Yes
Has the owner of the site agreed to have it designated as an IEEE Milestone? Yes
Year or range of years in which the achievement occurred:
1928-1933
Title of the proposed milestone:
Radio Astronomy, discovery of extraterrestrial radio waves emanating from the Milky Way, by Karl Guthe Jansky, 1928-1933.
Plaque citation summarizing the achievement and its significance; if personal name(s) are included, such name(s) must follow the achievement itself in the citation wording: Text absolutely limited by plaque dimensions to 70 words; 60 is preferable for aesthetic reasons.
At Holmdel, New Jersey, in 1932, Karl G. Jansky of Bell Telephone Laboratories discovered electromagnetic waves of interstellar origin, marking the birth of radio astronomy. Using a rotating antenna and sensitive recording equipment of his own design, Jansky identified signals fixed in space, originating from the Milky Way. This groundbreaking discovery revolutionized astronomy, enabling the study of celestial phenomena through radio waves.
200-250 word abstract describing the significance of the technical achievement being proposed, the person(s) involved, historical context, humanitarian and social impact, as well as any possible controversies the advocate might need to review.
IEEE technical societies and technical councils within whose fields of interest the Milestone proposal resides.
In what IEEE section(s) does it reside?
North Jersey Section
IEEE Organizational Unit(s) which have agreed to sponsor the Milestone:
IEEE Organizational Unit(s) paying for milestone plaque(s):
Unit: North Jersey Section
Senior Officer Name: Hong Zhao, PhD
IEEE Organizational Unit(s) arranging the dedication ceremony:
Unit: North Jersey
Senior Officer Name: Hong Zhao, PhD
IEEE section(s) monitoring the plaque(s):
IEEE Section: North Jersey Section
IEEE Section Chair name: Hong Zhao, PhD
Milestone proposer(s):
Proposer name: Katherine Grace August, PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Thomas M Willis, III PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Giovanni Vannucci, PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Theodore Sizer, II PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Victor Lawrence, PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Douglas Zuckerman, PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Mathini Sellathurai, PhD
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Proposer name: Jeremy Prasad
Proposer email: Proposer's email masked to public
Please note: your email address and contact information will be masked on the website for privacy reasons. Only IEEE History Center Staff will be able to view the email address.
Street address(es) and GPS coordinates in decimal form of the intended milestone plaque site(s):
Nokia Bell Labs, Bldg. 6, 600 Mountain Ave, Murray Hill, NJ 07974 US (40.684042, -74.400856)
Describe briefly the intended site(s) of the milestone plaque(s). The intended site(s) must have a direct connection with the achievement (e.g. where developed, invented, tested, demonstrated, installed, or operated, etc.). A museum where a device or example of the technology is displayed, or the university where the inventor studied, are not, in themselves, sufficient connection for a milestone plaque.
Please give the details of the mounting, i.e. on the outside of the building, in the ground floor entrance hall, on a plinth on the grounds, etc. If visitors to the plaque site will need to go through security, or make an appointment, please give the contact information visitors will need. Nokia Bell Labs headquarters in Murray Hill New Jersey; other locations include: Bellworks 101 Crawfords Corner Road Holmdel New Jersey; Historical Society Matawan Cliffwood New Jersey; AT&T Labs 200 S Laurel Ave Middletown New Jersey; Nokia Bell Labs New Brunswick New Jersey; Dr Robert Woodrow Wilson Park Crawford Hill Holmdel Keyport Road Holmdel New Jersey; other township, university and or corporate locations. Nokia Bell Labs headquarters has several plaques secured and accessible to the public; AT&T Labs has several plaques secured and accessible to the public; Dr Robert Woodrow Wilson Park has plaques and monuments secured and will be open to the public; Bellworks has several historical monuments and plaques secured and accessible to the public; Matawan Cliffwood has several historical buildings secured and accessible to the public.
Are the original buildings extant?
The original buildings are not extant.
Details of the plaque mounting:
Nokia Bell Labs has a display of IEEE plaques and other monuments at the main entrance secured and accessible to the public; AT&T Labs has a display of plaques and other monuments at the main entrance secured and accessible to the public; Dr Robert Woodrow Wilson Park will be secured and opened to the public; Bellworks has several displays of plaques and monuments around the property, inside, secured and accessible to the public.
How is the site protected/secured, and in what ways is it accessible to the public?
Nokia Bell Labs, AT&T Labs, Bellworks have corporate security, townships of Holmdel, Matawan, Cliffwood have secured parks and historic buildings.
Who is the present owner of the site(s)?
Nokia Bell Labs; AT&T Labs; Dr Robert Woodrow Wilson Park - Holmdel Township Holmdel New Jersey; Bellworks.
What is the historical significance of the work (its technological, scientific, or social importance)? If personal names are included in citation, include detailed support at the end of this section preceded by "Justification for Inclusion of Name(s)". (see section 6 of Milestone Guidelines)
Karl G. Jansky’s pioneering work in 1932 at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey, led to the discovery of electromagnetic waves originating from interstellar space. While investigating atmospheric disturbances affecting shortwave radio communications, Jansky detected weak, continuous signals that exhibited a fixed spatial direction. Through meticulous analysis, he determined the source of these waves to be the Milky Way galaxy, with coordinates of right ascension 18 hours and declination -20 degrees. This discovery marked the inception of radio astronomy, a field that has since transformed our understanding of the universe. Jansky’s work overcame significant technical challenges, including the development of a highly directive antenna system and precise signal intensity recording equipment. His findings opened new avenues for exploring celestial phenomena invisible to optical telescopes, such as pulsars, quasars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. Jansky’s contributions laid the foundation for modern astrophysics and inspired the construction of advanced radio observatories worldwide. Recognizing Jansky’s achievement as an IEEE Milestone honors his enduring impact on science and technology.
What obstacles (technical, political, geographic) needed to be overcome?
Karl G. Jansky overcame a series of formidable obstacles—technical, institutional, economic, and personal—in his groundbreaking work that led to the discovery of cosmic radio waves and the birth of radio astronomy.
Technically, Jansky confronted the challenge of detecting extremely faint radio signals from space, which required equipment of unprecedented sensitivity and precision. He developed a highly directional rotating antenna, now famously known as the "Jansky merry-go-round," capable of scanning the sky with accuracy. In addition, he designed sophisticated recording systems to measure and analyze signal intensities over time. These efforts required him to filter out terrestrial sources of interference and account for complex atmospheric effects such as ionospheric distortions and attenuation—problems that had not previously been addressed in the context of astronomical observation.
Beyond the technical hurdles, Jansky worked during the economically dire period of the Great Depression, which imposed significant constraints. Bell Labs, like many institutions at the time, faced cutbacks in staffing, hours, and resources. Jansky's own workspace was relocated, requiring him to rebuild key components of his experimental apparatus from the ground up. Despite these institutional and economic challenges, he persisted with remarkable resourcefulness and dedication.
Jansky also endured health challenges that threatened his ability to sustain a professional career and ultimately led to his untimely death at age 44. Nevertheless, his perseverance, ingenuity, and deep commitment to science enabled him to carry out his work with exceptional thoroughness and creativity.
Support from his family and technical community also played a crucial role. His brother, C.M. Jansky, Jr.—an influential radio engineer, educator, and leader in the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE)—understood the importance of Karl’s discoveries and worked to document and share them with the broader scientific and regulatory communities.
In sum, Karl G. Jansky’s achievement was not only a triumph of engineering and discovery but also a story of resilience against considerable adversity. His success in launching the field of radio astronomy reflects not only his scientific brilliance but also his unwavering determination in the face of technical, economic, and personal challenges.
What features set this work apart from similar achievements?
There are no comparable achievements to Karl G. Jansky’s discovery. His pioneering work stands alone as the birth of radio astronomy—a fundamentally new scientific field. This unique achievement was made possible through the supportive and intellectually vibrant environment of Bell Telephone Laboratories celebrating 100 years in 2025, which encouraged individual initiative, interdisciplinary research, and long-term scientific inquiry. Within this context, Jansky was able to pursue his investigations beyond the original engineering scope of identifying sources of static in transatlantic radio communications. His identification of extraterrestrial radio waves, specifically from the center of the Milky Way galaxy in the constellation of Sagittarius at 7:10 p.m. on September 16, 1932, and peaking exactly at the length of a sidereal day or the time it takes for a fixed astronomical object to pass in front of the antenna, marked the first time cosmic radio emissions were detected and scientifically analyzed.
What sets Jansky’s work apart is that it was not only a technical innovation, but a paradigm-shifting moment in the history of science. He was not trained as an astronomer and yet, with persistence and scientific rigor, he opened a new observational window on the universe. This accomplishment was rooted in the experimental traditions of Bell Labs and was further enabled by an ecosystem of encouragement—from family members, technical colleagues, and the broader scientific community.
Jansky’s achievement underscores the long-standing role of Bell Labs as a crucible for scientific and technological innovation. From the foundational vision of Alexander Graham Bell to the pioneering efforts of scientists like Jansky, the institution fosters creative, interdisciplinary breakthroughs that continue to shape the future of science and communications. His work did not merely improve an existing technology—it initiated a new scientific discipline that has since transformed our understanding of the cosmos.
Why was the achievement successful and impactful?
Karl G. Jansky’s achievement at Bell Laboratories was successful because it combined scientific insight, technical innovation, and disciplined experimentation to uncover an entirely new window on the universe—radio astronomy. His work, fostered by a unique interdisciplinary and collaborative environment, revealed, for the first time, that celestial bodies emit radio frequency energy, fundamentally expanding humanity’s understanding of the cosmos. This discovery was not an incremental improvement on existing science; it was a foundational shift that created a new discipline, enabling future discoveries in astrophysics, cosmology, and space science.
The lasting impact of Karl G. Jansky’s discovery includes revolutionizing astronomy, enabling the study of phenomena invisible to optical telescopes. His work inspired the development of radio observatories and advanced technologies, profoundly shaping modern astrophysics and our understanding of the universe.
The success of Jansky’s work stemmed from his ability to push the boundaries of radio engineering beyond its original application in communications. Tasked with identifying sources of static affecting transatlantic radio signals, he designed a custom-built, rotating antenna array that enabled systematic sky surveys. Through meticulous observation and analysis, he identified a persistent radio signal originating from the center of the Milky Way—an insight that required both technical expertise and a scientific imagination willing to entertain cosmic origins.
The impact of this achievement has been profound and enduring. Radio astronomy has since enabled the discovery of pulsars, quasars, cosmic microwave background radiation, and the detailed structure of galaxies. It has played a pivotal role in testing fundamental theories in physics, including general relativity and the Big Bang theory. Practically, it has also led to numerous advances in instrumentation, signal processing, and data analysis, many of which have had broad applications beyond astronomy.
Jansky’s pioneering work exemplifies the spirit of innovation that transforms a single scientific question into an entire field of inquiry. It was successful because it opened the door to exploring the invisible universe, and impactful because it inspired generations of scientists and engineers to follow that path. His discovery remains a cornerstone in the history of science and a testament to the power of curiosity, persistence, and interdisciplinary thinking fundamental to Bell Laboratories beginning with Alexander Graham Bell and celebrated in the 100th Anniversary in 2025.
Supporting texts and citations to establish the dates, location, and importance of the achievement: Minimum of five (5), but as many as needed to support the milestone, such as patents, contemporary newspaper articles, journal articles, or chapters in scholarly books. 'Scholarly' is defined as peer-reviewed, with references, and published. You must supply the texts or excerpts themselves, not just the references. At least one of the references must be from a scholarly book or journal article. All supporting materials must be in English, or accompanied by an English translation.
http://www.bigear.org/vol1no4/jansky.htm https://ethw.org/Cyril_M._Jansky,_Jr.
Jansky, Karl Guthe (December 1932). "Directional studies of atmospherics at high frequencies". Proc. IRE. 20 (12): 1920. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1932.227477. S2CID 51660959. Jansky, Karl Guthe (July 8, 1933). "Radio waves from outside the solar system". Nature. 132 (3323): 66. Bibcode:1933Natur.132...66J. doi:10.1038/132066a0. S2CID 4063838. Jansky, Karl Guthe (October 1933). "Electrical disturbances apparently of extraterrestrial origin". Proc. IRE. 21 (10): 1387. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1933.227458. Reprinted 65 years later as Jansky, Karl Guthe (July 1998). "Electrical disturbances apparently of extraterrestrial origin". Proc. IEEE. 86 (7): 1510–1515. doi:10.1109/JPROC.1998.681378. S2CID 47549559. along with an explanatory preface by W.A. Imbriale, Introduction To "Electrical Disturbances Apparently Of Extraterrestrial Origin" . Jansky, Karl Guthe (December 1933). "Electrical phenomena that apparently are of interstellar origin". Popular Astronomy. 41: 548. Bibcode:1933PA.....41..548J. Jansky, Karl Guthe (October 1935). "A note on the source of interstellar interference". Proc. IRE. 23 (10): 1158. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1935.227275. S2CID 51632813. Jansky, Karl Guthe (December 1937). "Minimum noise levels obtained on short-wave radio receiving systems". Proc. IRE. 25 (12): 1517. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1937.228780. S2CID 51660095.
Singh, Simon (2005), Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe, Harper Perennial, pp. 402–408, Bibcode:2004biba.book.....S, ISBN 978-0-00-716221-5, p. 406
"Cyril M. Jansky, Jr". January 20, 2016.
Serendipitous Discoveries in Radio Astronomy: Proceedings of a Workshop held at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia on May 4, 5, 6, 1983; Honoring the 50th Anniversary Announcing the Discovery of Cosmic Radio Waves by Karl G. Jansky on May 5, 1933. Edited by K. Kellermann and B. Sheets (1983) 321pp
Kraus, John (Fall 1981). "The First 50 Years of Radio Astronomy, Part 1: Karl Jansky and His Discovery of Radio Waves from Our Galaxy". North American AstroPhysical Observatory (NAAPO). Cosmic Search, Vol. 3, No. 4. Retrieved September 21, 2021. "In 1930 essentially all that we knew about the heavens had come from what we could see or photograph. Karl Jansky changed all that. A universe of radio sounds to which mankind had been deaf since time immemorial now suddenly burst forth in full chorus."
World of Scientific Discovery on Karl Jansky. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
Sullivan, W. T., ed. (1984), The Early Years of Radio Astronomy: Reflections Fifty Years After Jansky's Discovery, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-61602-7
Smothers, Ronald (June 9, 1998). "Commemorating a Discovery in Radio Astronomy". New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
Karl Jansky (October 1933). "Electrical Disturbances Apparently of Extraterrestrial Origin". Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers. 21 (10): 1387–1398. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1933.227458. See also Karl Jansky (July 8, 1933). "Radio Waves from Outside the Solar System" (PDF). Nature. 132 (3323): 66. Bibcode:1933Natur.132...66J. doi:10.1038/132066a0. S2CID 4063838.
"Karl Jansky". MagLab. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
"Jansky, Karl (1905–1950)". Encyclopedia.com. May 17, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
Ghigo, F (2003). "Karl Jansky and the Discovery of Cosmic Radio Waves". nrao.edu. National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
"Karl G. Jansky, 44, Authority in Radio; Bell Laboratories Engineer Dies–Discovered Waves of Extraterrestrial Origin". The New York Times. February 15, 1950. Retrieved May 7, 2010. "Karl Guthe Jansky of 57 Silverton Avenue, Little Silver, N.J., radio research engineer with the Bell Telephone Laboratories since 1928, who discovered radio waves of extraterrestrial origin in 1933 died yesterday in the Riverside [sic] Hospital, Red Bank, N.J., of a heart malady."
Imbriale, William A (July 1998). "Introduction to "Electrical Disturbances Apparently of Extraterrestrial Origin"". Proceedings of the IEEE. 86 (7): 1507–1509. doi:10.1109/JPROC.1998.681377. "Had Jansky not died at a very early age, he would undoubtedly have been awarded the Nobel Prize. His serendipitous discovery gave birth to a new branch of astronomy, radio astronomy."
"Jansky Fellowship".
"Jansky Prize".
"VLA Rededication".
"Detective Work Leads to Monument Honoring the Father of Radio Astronomy". Bell Labs. June 3, 1998. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020.
"Historical Marker Database: Karl Jansky Radio Astronomy Monument". Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
"(1932) Jansky". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer. 2003. p. 155. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1933. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.
Sullivan, W. T., ed. (1984), The Early Years of Radio Astronomy: Reflections Fifty Years After Jansky's Discovery, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-61602-7. In particular Chap.1 by Sullivan, "Karl Jansky and the discovery of extraterrestrial radio waves," pp. 3–42. Sullivan, W. T. (2009), Cosmic Noise: A History of Early Radio Astronomy, Cambridge University Press, Bibcode:2009cnhe.book.....S. In particular Chap. 2.
Supporting materials (supported formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, PDF, DOC): All supporting materials must be in English, or if not in English, accompanied by an English translation. You must supply the texts or excerpts themselves, not just the references. For documents that are copyright-encumbered, or which you do not have rights to post, email the documents themselves to ieee-history@ieee.org. Please see the Milestone Program Guidelines for more information.
Please email a jpeg or PDF a letter in English, or with English translation, from the site owner(s) giving permission to place IEEE milestone plaque on the property, and a letter (or forwarded email) from the appropriate Section Chair supporting the Milestone application to ieee-history@ieee.org with the subject line "Attention: Milestone Administrator." Note that there are multiple texts of the letter depending on whether an IEEE organizational unit other than the section will be paying for the plaque(s).
Please recommend reviewers by emailing their names and email addresses to ieee-history@ieee.org. Please include the docket number and brief title of your proposal in the subject line of all emails.
