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Few telescopes will receive an emotional response from the general public when it is finally announced that they will be deactivated. In the case of the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in recent months not only astronomers but also countless people around the world have waited with bated breath after the first reports of damage to the giant radio telescope dish.
When the National Science Foundation announced that they would disable the telescope, there was an understandable release of pain and shock. Not only is Arecibo a landmark in Puerto Rico, it’s the telescope of iconic films like Golden eye (1995) and Contact (1997). Its data has fueled public programs such as the Seti @ Home and Einstein @ Home projects.
Was the disappearance of Arecibo really inevitable and what does it mean for the scientific community?
Keep reading “Praise to Arecibo: with the disappearance of a unique scientific structure, who will carry the torch?”
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