Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center
[ IMPORTANT MESSAGE ]The Angel Ramos Foundation Science and Visitor Center of the Arecibo Observatory, has temporarily closed for the public due to remodeling of its facilities, which will expand its services to local and international visitors. Work is expected to finish in early 2016. The investigations and observations done by scientists using the radio telescope will not be affected and will be conducted as usual.
[ AVISO IMPORTANTE ] El Centro de Ciencia y Visitantes Fundacin ngel Ramos del Observatorio de Arecibo, cerr temporeramente al pblico para iniciar la remodelacin de sus instalaciones, que ampliar los servicios a sus visitantes locales e internacionales. Se espera que el trabajo culmine a principios del 2016. Las investigaciones y observaciones realizadas por cientficos utilizando el Radiotelescopio, no se vern afectadas de ninguna manera y se realizarn como de costumbre.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Arecibo Observatory is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), operated by a consortium of SRI International, USRA , UMET, under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF).As the site of world's largest single-dish radio telescope, the Arecibo Observatory attracts visitors of all ages and from many countries.
On March 1 1997, after eight years of fund-raising, planning and construction, the Observatory inaugurated its "Angel Ramos Foundation" Visitor Center. Over 100,000 visitors come per year to the new facility, about 30% of them school children. Here, through a variety of interactive exhibits, audiovisual displays, and informative panels, visitors are introduced to basic astronomy, atmospheric science, and to the operation of the radio telescope and its related research areas.
The center is named after Angel Ramos who was born in the year 1902 in Manat, Puerto Rico. A very active life in the field of communications led to the establishment of the first TV station in Puerto Rico, a radio station and, in 1944, the acquisition of the El Mundo newspaper. He established the Angel Ramos Foundation in 1958 which has developed into the largest private philanthropic institution in Puerto Rico benefitting hundreds of deserving projects.
Funding
The Angel Ramos Foundation provided a matching grant of one half the construction cost of the building. The City of Arecibo, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the Government of Puerto Rico, and several corporations and individuals in Puerto Rico provided the remaining funds. The NSF Informal Science Education Program funded the exhibit program.