The University of Tasmania's Mount Pleasant Radio Telescope Observatory was open to visitors on Sunday.

The site hosts two telescopes, one 26 metres and one 14 metres.

The two telescopes are used for a variety of research projects within the university and are open to external use and for commercial tracking purposes.

UTAS pulsar astrophysicist Dr Jim Palfreyman said the 26 metre telescope, relocated to Tasmania from the ACT in 1985, is the most southerly of all large radio telescopes.

"It plays an important part in the worldwide significant role of astrophysics research across the globe," Dr Palfreyman said.

Visitors to the telescope learned about the science of radio astronomy, experienced the Telescope Control Room and viewed the famous 26 metre dish antenna.

The site also hosts a museum which showcases the life and work of Tasmanian radio astronomer Grote Reber, "the father of radio astronomy".