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More than fifty friends of the late Big Ear radio telescope gather at the former site of the great instrument on 5 November 2000, to dedicate an Ohio State Historical Marker. Ohio's only radio telescope was demolished two years ago to make way for the expansion of a commercial golf course. SETI League photo

Dr. Philip E. Barnhart, Physics Professor Emeritus at Otterbein College, officiated at ceremonies to dedicate the Big Ear Historical Marker. Prof. Barnhart serves as Coordinator of the North American Astro-Physical Observatories (NAAPO), the non-profit foundation which operated Big Ear for the final 24 years of its existence. SETI League photo

Dr. John D. Kraus, Ohio's first and foremost radio astronomer, designed and built Big Ear, the third largest radio telescope in the United States. His basic design has been duplicated at least three times around the world, and is now known generically as the Kraus-type telescope. SETI League photo

Dr. Robert S. Dixon was a student of Dr. Kraus, his collaborator in much astronomical research, and associate director of the Big Ear radio telescope. Bob created innovative observational aids and conceived the Argus telescope concept now being developed at Ohio State University. He serves on the advisory board of The SETI League, Inc. SETI League photo

Dr. Jerry Ehman was a programmer and observer during the Ohio Sky Survey, later volunteering to operate Big Ear. Jerry is the discover of the famous "Wow!" signal celebrated in song. SETI League photo

Dr. Jon Young is director of the Ohio State University Electro Sciences Laboratory. Jon used Big Ear as a compact range for radar studies. SETI League photo

Dr. Steven W. Ellingson started as a volunteer at Big Ear while in graduate school in electrical engineering. Currently he is principle investigator on Ohio State University's Argus telescope design. SETI League photo

Dr. Stephen Brown served as volunteer chief engineer at Big Ear until obtaining his Ph.D. while working on the Argus telescope program. Steve joined The SETI League at the reception following the dedication of the Big Ear Historical Marker. SETI League photo

Russell Childers, volunteer chief observer (1990-1998) at Big Ear, created software to automate the observing program after the crash of the old standby computer. He created a program to recognize celestial sources and select narrow-band sources for closer scrutiny by Big Ear. SETI League photo

James Cadle, creator of the Flag of Earth (which flies over SETI observatories worldwide), was present at the dedication of the Historical Marker. Jim prefers to be represented by his flag, rather than his face. Here it is seen flying at half mast over Big Ear just days prior to its demolition. SETI League photo

Mr. Philip Ross, Historical Markers Coordinator for the Ohio Historical Society, noted that this is the only such monument erected to honor the efforts of living persons, most of whom were present at its unveiling. SETI League photo

Ms. Carmelita Boyer, regional coordinator of the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, did the honors of unveiling the Historical Marker. SETI League photo

Side One of the Historical Marker reads: Pioneer Radio Telescope One half-mile east is the site of the former BIG EAR radio telescope. Designed by Dr. John D. Kraus, pioneering radio astronomer at Ohio State University, it had a collecting area of 340 by 70 feet (104 by 21 meters). The oabservatory was completed in 1963. The Ohio Sky Survey recorded here between 1965 and 1972 was the most accurate, reliable and complete mapping of cosmic radio signals (the radio sky) for many years. Big Ear gained fame for its ability to detect quasi-stellar radio sources, or "quasars," and for its discovery of some of the most distant objects known. This observatory conducted a 24-year continuous search for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, during which the famous "Wow!" signal was received in 1977. BIG EAR was demolished in 1998. SETI League photo

Side Two of the Historical Marker reads: Big Ear Radio Telescope BIG EAR consisted of a flat tiltable reflector, a fixed standing parabilic reflector, and pairs of receiving horn antennas. Radio signals were bounced off the flat reflector, focused by the parabolic reflector, and collected by the feed horns. The telescope used the rotation of the Earth to scan a narrow path across the sky once each day. The Ohio State University and the National Science Foundation funded the telescope's design and construction, and it was built almost entirely with faculty and student part-time labor. From 1973 through 1997, the observatory was operated and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteer scientists with generous assistance from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and private benefactors. Successful operation of the telescope would not have been possible without the dedication of site technician Eugene (Gene) Miskell (1931 - 1987). SETI League photo

Philip Barnhart models the Big Ear hat, which bears the words "Save Big Ear." Sadly, that was not to be. SETI League photo

SETI League supporters can now own a piece of history. When the Ohio State University "Big Ear" radio telescope was demolished in early 1998, we salvaged a hundred pieces of its mesh surface. For a suitable contribution, you can obtain a handsome plaque honoring one of the world's great radio telescopes, home to the longest running SETI project ever. See this Press Release for further details. The memorial plaque depicted here went on sale just one year after the "Wow!" 20th Anniversary celebration. SETI League photo

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