While the decision not to rebuild affects the ability of scientists to study numerous astronomical objects, this decision will also affect Puerto Ricans. In addition, the facility has also played an important role in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), providing the source data for and the SETI Institute’s Project Phoenix. The facility has contributed to significant breakthroughs in astronomy and cosmology, including the discovery of the first binary pulsar, the first-millisecond pulsar, the first exoplanets, along with helping to study asteroids and planets in the Solar System. The observatory has appeared in movies, television shows and more, and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. ![]() It was used in three major areas of research: radio astronomy, atmospheric science, and radar astronomy. The Arecibo Observatory was completed in 1963 and for over 50 years (until the China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) was complete in 2016) it was the world’s largest single-aperture telescope. ![]() Rivera-Valentín, a planetary scientist whose work includes radar characterization of NEOs, said, “I am dismayed by the decision not to reconstruct the Arecibo telescope, especially without an alternate plan to replace or exceed the now lost capabilities of Arecibo.” The Arecibo Observatory during its heyday. Existing radar infrastructure can observe only half the asteroids once observable with Arecibo.” However, the most recent Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey noted that, “The loss of the Arecibo Observatory planetary radar greatly inhibits the ability to perform follow-up NEO (near Earth object) characterization. The NSF says that it is following community recommendations for not planning to rebuild the Arecibo Observatory. Instead, the NSF wants Arecibo to serve as a hub for STEM education and outreach. Since then, many have called for the telescope to be rebuilt or for building an even better replacement telescope at the site. This collapse officially ended any possible hopes of refurbishing the famous observatory. In early 2020, earthquakes temporarily closing the observatory for safety reasons then a succession of cable failures ultimately led to the December 2020 collapse of the 900-ton instrument platform suspended above the observatory, which crashed down on the iconic telescope’s giant dish. Issues began in 2017 for the nearly 55-year-old telescope when Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico, shearing off one of the 29-meter (96-foot) antennas that was suspended above the telescope’s 305-meter (1,000-foot) dish, with falling debris puncturing the dish in several places. The collapse of Arecibo’s radio telescope was a devastating blow to the radio astronomy community. Without the telescope, without the scientists, I don’t personally see how going to the visitor center won’t be like going to a memorial.” An overhead view of the damaged Arecibo Observatory after some cleanup. It did so because scientists at the observatory could be mentors and role models to students. But it did so because we were doing great science with the telescope. “When I had the privilege of working at the observatory, as the first Arecibeño scientist to do so, I saw how it continued to serve that important role. “Arecibo’s role in inspiring generations of Puerto Ricans centered on the fact that we had a world-class facility doing cutting-edge science in our home,” Rivera-Valentín told Universe Today. ![]() “I am heart-broken by this decision,” said native Puerto Rican and planetary astronomer Edgard Rivera-Valentín, who was born in Arecibo and was inspired by the science and discoveries being made in right in their back yard. 6, though the Arecibo Observatory made it through that storm relatively unscathed.Įmail Hanneke Weitering at or follow her. Hurricane Irma also hit the island on Sept. 18) as the observatory was preparing for the second major hurricane to hit Puerto Rico this month. 27), Arecibo representatives said on Twitter Monday (Sept. The visitor center is officially closed through Wednesday (Sept. Getting to the observatory will be a challenge, though, as roads are covered in debris and are inaccessible at this time, USRA officials said.īefore the hurricane, Arecibo officials tweeted that the observatory would reopen to staff today, though it seems unlikely that anyone who didn't take shelter at the observatory will be able to report for work. Officials have yet to conduct "a full assessment of the damage, repairs that are needed and when the observatory can resume observations," Nicholas White, senior vice president for science at the USRA, said in a statement. VLBI is a method astronomers use to make radio telescopes more powerful by creating a network of smaller telescopes that work together. "Also, a separate 12-meter dish used as a phase reference for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) was lost," the USRA update states.
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