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The Arecibo Observatory and its Telescope

The Arecibo Observatory (AO) is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), which is operated by SRI International under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (AST-1100968), and in alliance with Ana G. Mц©ndez-Universidad Metropolitana, and the Universities Space Research Association. Use of the AO is available on an equal, competitive basis to all scientists from throughout the world to pursue research in radio astronomy, radar astronomy and atmospheric sciences. Observing time is granted on the basis of the most promising research as adjudicated by a panel of anonymous referees.

Table: Basic Information on the AO Site and the 305-m Telescope

The Observatory lies in the karst hills of the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, some 10 miles south of the coastal city of Arecibo. It was constructed in 1960-63 and upgraded, first in 1972-74, and again in 1992-98. Table 1 lists basic information on the observatory site and the telescope. The Arecibo 305-m telescope is a general-purpose meter-to-centimeter wavelength instrument. Among its many possibilities, are support of the following types of investigation;

• spectral line observing, both ``pointed'' investigations of specific targets, and ``on-the-fly'' mapping,
• continuum observing in total-intensity or full-Stokes mode. Beam switching is not presently available at any frequency,
• pulsar observing, including pulsar search (targeted and survey), timing, single-pulse, interstellar scintillation, and polarization studies,
• VLBI observing as part of the major VLBI networks (i.e. HSA, EVN and Global). Recording is currently made via a VLBA4 data-acquisition rack and a Mk5A recorder. These will soon be upgraded to an RDBE digital backend and Mk5C recorders,
• planetary radar observing, and,
• atmospheric physics investigations.

Neither planetary radar nor atmospheric physics will be specifically mentioned in this document, (although some information included here may be of use to scientists active in these disciplines). Those requiring more details of the instruments available for such studies are directed to http://www.naic.edu/~pradar/pradar.htm for planetary radar studies, and http://www.naic.edu/aisr/sas/sashomeframe.html for atmospheric physics.

General user information can be found on the NAIC web site,
http://www.naic.edu/index\_scientific.php, including;

• road maps (http://www.naic.edu/public/mapmenu.htm),
• lodging fees +http://www.naic.edu/science/usrweb/general/visiting.htm#roomrates),
• telescope schedules (http://www.naic.edu/vscience/schedule/scedfra2.htm).