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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2016
Radio surveys have an important role in astronomy, one that has changed with technology and scientific requirements. Most objects studied by radio astronomers today are the unexpected discoveries of early surveys. The survey “discovery” phase began with Jansky's detection of Galactic radio emission and Reber's 160 MHz maps showing that this emission is non-thermal. Surveys made just after World War II revealed strong discrete sources which were later identified with supernova remnants, radio galaxies, and quasars. Pulsars were discovered during a sky survey for scintillating sources. BL Lac objects were recognized in early high-frequency surveys. The first gravitationally lensed quasar appeared in the extensive Jodrell Bank 960 MHz survey, and the first measurement of gravitational radiation came from the binary pulsar serendipidously found in a pulsar survey.