Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 January 2010
Radio astronomy has played an important part in the study of relativity. Famous examples include the discovery and exploitation of pulsars for precise binary pulsar tests, the proof of the existence of gravitational radiation and the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave background. In the future, radio astronomy will continue to play a decisive role, assisted by new and upcoming instruments like LOFAR and the SKA. In this review, I will present the revolution that is ongoing in radio astronomical techniques and outline the impact expected on the studies of relativity.