By: Ben Bafaloukos
Serving with the Green Bank Observatory
Telescopes. Microwaves. WiFi. These are the words that most West Virginians associate with Green Bank, and rightly so. The Green Bank Telescope (GBT) and its fellow structures dominate the lifestyle of this small town. Unlike optical telescopes, radio telescopes are incredibly sensitive to the radio waves produced by celestial bodies and electronics alike. To reduce interference with the telescopes’ measurements, in the Quiet Zone surrounding Green Bank wireless devices and other radio-emitters are strictly forbidden- this includes commonplace items like Bluetooth speakers, microwave ovens, and WiFi routers. To go one step further, within a mile-wide radius of the GBT, no electronic devices at all are permitted.
Therein lies Green Bank’s unique appeal (or challenge)- if someone wants to walk to the GBT or hike the trails on the Observatory’s property, they must either completely turn off their cell phone or leave it in the car. The same goes for non-film cameras. Just the thought of cutting yourself off from your phone and all its endless notifications might make you uncomfortable. It did for me, at first. But now, about half-way into my service with the Observatory, I relish the opportunity to leave my phone behind. It feels like dropping a weight from my shoulders. I no longer have to respond to every text, email, or alert, and instead I’m free to enjoy the landscape and all the diverse life that graces this valley.
I’m very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. Green Bank was selected for the Observatory back in the 1950’s largely because of its geography. We are situated in a valley surrounded on every side by mountains. The mountains help to block radio signals from the surrounding landscape from affecting our telescopes. They also make for incredible views no matter which direction you look. Without the constant draw of technology, Green Bank is a fantastic place to take a breath and connect with your surroundings.
If you’re in the mood to be immersed in lush vegetation and birdsong, the Back 40 and JC Junction Trails don’t disappoint. You might even find some marine fossils while on Slavin Hollow Road. When the end of the day approaches and I’m tired from work, there’s nothing I would rather do than take a walk on our premier walking trail, aptly titled the Nature Trail. This trail takes visitors directly from our Science Center to the GBT, making its way through overgrown field and forest while providing multiple spots to enjoy views of distant mountain ridges.
As an AmeriCorps member serving at the Observatory, my primary duty is to write and design interpretive signage to be installed on the Nature Trail. The signs I’m creating will amaze and inspire visitors with diverse topics such as monarch butterflies, oak trees, and fossils. In a true interpretive effort, they will connect the earth you stand on to abstract concepts like time, change, and more, all within the theme of “discovery.” For example, one sign will sit at the base of an ancient oak tree, likely at least 300 years old. If trees could talk, what stories could this one tell? Perhaps it would tell of the American Revolution, during which this tree was about 50 years old. Maybe it would tell its story of the disappearance of the American chestnut tree, or the development of the modern conservation movement. By looking at the natural world in a new way, my hope is that visitors will begin to appreciate the value of wild spaces. As for myself, I can’t think of a more beautiful place to do so.
