Coolness Page: Astronomy: Arecibo Observatory

This page is about one of the most impressive Radio Telescope
Observatories in the world. It is featured in the memorable film "Contact"
and is used in the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence...

see also the Coolness Pages about the VLA in New Mexico,
about the Jodrell Bank observatory in England,
about Parkes observatory in Australia and about Seti...
or go back to the Coolness Page...

Arecibo Radio Telescope

The Arecibo Observatory has the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

The construction of the Arecibo Radio Telescope started in the summer of
1960 and was completed in November 1963. It is located near Arecibo in the
north-north-west of Puerto Rico, latitude = 18° 30' north, longitude = 66° 45' west.
The dish is 305 m. in diameter, 51 m. deep and covers an area of about 80,000 m².

The dish had two major upgrades. In 1974 a new high precision surface for the
reflector was installed together with a high frequency planetary radar transmitter.
The second and major upgrade to the telescope was completed in 1997. A ground
screen around the perimeter of the reflector was installed to shield the feeds
from ground radiation. A new more powerful radar transmitter was also installed.

About 140 persons are employed by the Observatory.
A staff of telescope operators support observing twenty-four hours per day.

Aerial view of the dish.

Aerial view of the dish.

A unique view under the dish.

The receiver.

Angel Ramos Foundation Visitor Center and images of the suspension.

More information on the Arecibo Observatory home page.


see also the Coolness Pages about the VLA in New Mexico,
about the Jodrell Bank observatory in England,
about Parkes observatory in Australia and about Seti...
or go back to the Coolness Page...