Arecibo: The Largest Telescope
Explanation:
The
Arecibo radio telescope
is currently the largest single-dish telescope in the world.
First opening in 1963, this 305 meter (1000 foot)
radio telescope resides
in a natural valley of
Puerto Rico.
The
Arecibo telescope has been used for
many astronomical research projects,
including searches and
studies of pulsars, and
mapping atomic and molecular gas in the
Galaxy and
the
universe.
As the Arecibo dish can also be used to send radio waves,
it has bounced and recorded radiation off of planets in our
Solar System,
and has even
broadcast messages to areas of the Galaxy
that might contain intelligent
extra-terrestrial life.
Any person in the world may use the telescope,
providing their
proposal is selected by a review committee.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
