The Outstanding Arecibo Observatory
Puerto Rico, near the town of Arecibo, is home to a radar-radio telescope, which is one of the most powerful on the planet, which is also the biggest single-dish telescope at this time. This amazing structure is the Arecibo Observatory. This leading instrument was established in 1963 and is under the management and operation of the Cornell University. The research that is done through the Arecibo Observatory, is supported by the National Science Foundation, and the observatory itself is known as the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center. The Arecibo Observatory is not only a popular Puerto Rico attraction due to its capabilities, but evokes curiosity after being seen in movies such as the James Bond Movie, Golden Eye, and the movie Contact, that featured movie star Jodie Foster.
This interesting Puerto Rico attraction works with a 300 meter reflector dish. The perforated aluminium panels that is located on the reflector, works in conjunction with an antenna that can be moved in various directions. The radio waves that are picked up by the panels and antenna collect data in regard to the planets, astronomy and atmospheric sciences. The data that is collected assists users with logistical analysis and furthers the study of a world beyond ours. Wind and temperatures that are located in the atmosphere can be measured and analyzed with the help of a Fabry-Perot. The Fabry-Perot, together with an instrument called a lidar, Light Detection and Ranging, is capable of assisting scientist in the research of aeronomy.
The Arecibo Observatory is in working twenty-four hours a day and provides much need information to scientist in all corners of the world. Scientist flock to this observatory to take advantage of its astonishing capabilities, and to either further their studies or to collect data to support their theories. Approximately 200 scientists come to Puerto Rico each year, as do many students that need to research projects for their dissertations.
The observatory employs approximately 140 people that take care of every aspect of running the observatory. Scientists, computer engineers, engineers and technicians all play a vital role in the maintenance of the instruments and assuring that the observatory is continuously working. The observatory also employs telescope operators that ensure that the state of the art technology never stops observing, and that the data never stops accumulating.
