The characteristics of the ``synchrotron light'' emitted by electrons in the NBS 180‐MeV electron synchrotron were studied in detail. The electron beam cross section was approximately 1×2 mm. The angular distribution and polarization properties were determined for the visible radiation; photoelectric techniques resulted in a more critical comparison of the experimental results to the theoretical predictions than heretofore possible. Doubts raised by previous work regarding the symmetry of the radiation with respect to the orbital plane have been allayed. Characteristics of the radiation in the extreme ultraviolet are calculated for the NBS machine, and applications of this source for physical experiments are discussed.