Scientists, students demand action to keep Arecibo radio telescope operating

[Judi Lynn]

"The observatory is very important for science globally."
ByCristina Corujo
November 26, 2020, 12:10 PM
• 7 min read

After the National Scientific Foundation (NSF) announced last Thursday the demolition and decommission of the iconic Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, scientists, experts and many Puerto Ricans have taken to digital platforms to plead with the government to save the 57-year-old observatory.

Many including researchers and students are using #SaveTheAreciboObservatory and #WhatAreciboMeansToMe hashtags to share the observatory's impact in their lives and the scientific world. A Twitter account called Save the Arecibo Observatory has also been created.

"#WhatAreciboMeansToMe: More than a telescope," Kevin Ortiz, a physics student at the University of Puerto Rico, wrote on Twitter. For him, the observatory has had "an incalculable impact in the communities of PR."

Organizations including the Planetary Society are also joining the conversation on social media. "Arecibo Observatory touched the lives of so many people. Its scientific achievements enriched our understanding of the universe and helped protect our planet from asteroids," the organization said in a tweet.

More:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/scientists-students-demand-action-arecibo-radio-telescope-operating/story?id=74402568

[Warpy]

1. Perhaps when we get rid of the anti science bidnessmen and religious nuts

it will most likely be rebuilt, better. It was a victim of its age, salt water, and hurricanes of various strengths causing subtle damage to cables which then caused major damage to the telescope when they snapped. It was no longer repairable since the damage likely extended to the other cables, as well.

I have no idea where it will be rebuilt. I just know it needs to be.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. I'm going to guess that the telescope would probably need to be

completely rebuilt, and would no doubt cost a lot of money.

I've sent a request to My Son The Astronomer to see if he can shed any light on this.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Finally spoke with My Son The Astronomer about this.

The Arecibo telescope has two ways of observing, as a radio telescope and as a radar telescope. There are any number of other radio telescopes out there, more than a hundred. You can check it out here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_telescopes

The radar telescope function is something else. There is only one other radar telescope in this country, Goldstone in California. Radar telescopes are good for certain, very specific things, and mainly with objects that are relatively close, inside the solar system. Apparently is radar that has allowed us to have some idea of what the surface of Venus might be like. Radar is also a good way to track things like comets and asteroids that might possibly pose a danger. So it's too bad we're losing Arecibo because from what I see in the wiki article about radar telescopes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_astronomy it's far better than Goldstone.

But my son says there just doesn't seem to be the funding and the will to rebuild or fix Arecibo.