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.
