radio waves

Radio Waves

radio waves

Traveling electromagnetic disturbances whose frequencies lie in the radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum, extending from about 20 kilohertz to over 300 gigahertz, the highest frequencies corresponding to millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Radio astronomy may in principle be carried out at any radio frequency but in practice observations are confined to certain ‘radio-astronomy bands' set aside for that purpose by international agreement to minimize interference from other services (see table). These bands lie within the radio window (see atmospheric windows).

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006