The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio observatory is the largest radio telescope in the world that performs observations in the lower frequencies. This new generation radio telescope will be able to research the origin of the first galaxies, black holes and gas clouds at the ‘birth’ of the Universe. LOFAR consists of thousands of small antennas, distributed in 24 Core stations around Exloo, 14 Remote stations across the Netherlands and 14 International stations in Europe.

The antenna stations are linked by an ultra-fast fibre-optic network that transmits data to the supercomputer at the Donald Smits Centre for Information Technology. This system processes and combines data from thousands of antennas, creating a virtual dish about 100 kilometres in diameter. The network is extended with antenna stations in Germany, the UK, France and Sweden, allowing astronomers to make higher resolution observations. The maximum distance between the antennas is about 1,500 kilometres.

LOFAR core (24 stations):

geographic longitude:	06° 52′
geographic latitude:	52° 55′
altitude above sea level:	15 m

The locations of LOFAR stations are indicated on this map.

Available observing mode: single dish, array mode.

Frequencies used currently:

Frequency band	Observing mode
10 – 90 MHz (Low Band Antennas)	interferometer
110 – 250 MHz (High Band Antennas)	interferometer

Research programs: cosmology (epoch of reionisation, EOR), extra-galactic and galactic research (deep extragalactic surveys, transient sources, ultra-high energy cosmic rays, pulsars), geophysics and even precision agriculture.