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THE ARECIBO RADIO
OBSERVATORY TOUR
$575 Chartered For 10 People
The ride to the observatory
will take you through the mountains to the small town of Arecibo.
Those who see the Arecibo Radio Telescope for the first time are astounded
by the enormity of the reflecting surface, or radio mirror. It is a huge
'dish' 1000 feet in diameter and, with all the aluminum panels and steel
cables, it appears to me to look like giant tinkertoys.
The
Radio Telescope and the Observatory operates continuously on a 24-hour
basis providing observing time, electronics, computer, travel and logistic
support to scientists from all over the world.
The Arecibo Observatory is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere
Center (NAIC), operated by Cornell University 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.
The educational program centered on the theme "More Than Meets the Eye -
Exploring the Invisible Universe", reflects the general idea that we can
study our world with tools which extend our direct sensory experience. The
program explores the unseen sky and, in particular, the objects that fall
under the scrutiny of our radio telescope. Specifically, the program
introduces visitors to the electromagnetic spectrum as a means of
exploration, offers a framework of basic astronomy and atmospheric
science, and provides understanding of the function and operation of the
radio telescope. Some of Arecibo's most exciting new discoveries in the
fields of radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy and the earth's
atmosphere are presented.
In the auditorium, visitors can experience the scientific research
facility of the Observatory as a dynamic organism through a 20 minute
audiovisual show funded by the Angel Ramos Foundation entitled "A Day in
the Life of the Arecibo Observatory". The show tells the story of the
people who make Arecibo possible.
