The most iconic radio telescope of all time is gone forever, US government declares

The National Science Foundation announced last week that it will not rebuild or replace Puerto Rico’s iconic Arecibo Observatory, which collapsed in 2020. Instead, the NSF says they have solicited calls for proposals to build a multidisciplinary education center at the site.

Additionally, the plans do not appear to allow for future science or observation from the other facilities at the Arecibo site, as the NSF said they will not provide “operational support for current science infrastructure such as the 12-meter radio telescope or lidar facility,” also on site.

The announcement was met with disappointment and disbelief.

“I am heartbroken by this decision,” said Puerto Rican native and planetary astronomer Edgard Rivera-Valentín, who was born in Arecibo and was inspired by the science and discoveries made right in their backyard.

“Arecibo’s role in inspiring generations of Puerto Ricans stemmed from the fact that we had in our home a world-class facility that conducts cutting-edge science,” said Rivera-Valentín universe today. “Having the privilege of being the first scientist from Arecibeño to work at the observatory, I saw how it continues to fulfill this important role. But it did because we were doing great science with the telescope. This happened because the scientists at the observatory could be mentors and role models for students. Without the telescope, without the scientists, I personally don’t see that visiting the visitor center will be anything like visiting a memorial.”

The collapse of the Arecibo radio telescope was a devastating blow to the radio astronomical community. Trouble with the nearly 55-year-old telescope began in 2017 when Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico and sheared off one of the 29-meter (96-foot) antennas hanging over the telescope’s 305-meter (1,000-foot) dish, with debris falling , which pierce the bowl in several places.

In early 2020, earthquakes temporarily closed the observatory for safety reasons; then, finally in December 2020, a series of cable failures led to the collapse of the 900-ton instrument platform hanging over the observatory, which crashed onto the legendary telescope’s giant dish. This collapse officially ended all possible hopes for a renovation of the famous observatory.

Since then, many have called for the telescope to be rebuilt or for an even better replacement telescope to be built on site. Instead, the NSF wants Arecibo to serve as a hub for STEM education and outreach.

The NSF says it is following community recommendations not to plan to rebuild the Arecibo Observatory. However, the recent Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey found that “the loss of the Arecibo Observatory’s planetary radar severely impairs the ability to conduct subsequent NEO (near earth object) characterization. The existing radar infrastructure can only observe half of the asteroids that were once observable with Arecibo.”

Rivera-Valentín, a planetary scientist whose work includes radar characterization of NEOs, said: “I am dismayed by the decision not to reconstruct the Arecibo telescope, particularly without an alternative plan to replace or replace Arecibo’s now-lost capabilities surpass.”

Completed in 1963, the Arecibo Observatory was the world’s largest single-aperture telescope for over 50 years (until the completion of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in 2016). It has been used in three major research areas: radio astronomy, atmospheric science, and radar astronomy. The observatory has appeared in movies, television shows, and more, and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

The facility has contributed to major breakthroughs in astronomy and cosmology, including the discovery of the first double pulsar, the first millisecond pulsar and the first exoplanets, as well as in the study of asteroids and planets in the solar system. In addition, the facility also played an important role in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) by providing the source data for SETI@home and the SETI Institute’s Project Phoenix.

While the decision not to rebuild will affect scientists’ ability to study numerous astronomical objects, the decision will also affect Puerto Ricans. The NSF noted that the observatory “has become a highly valued part of the community for many Puerto Ricans, serving as a source of pride and local economic benefit while providing access to education and employment for many in the community.”

Rivera-Valentín worries that it will be difficult to retain island-born scientists and engineers as Puerto Rico doesn’t have many opportunities for STEM professionals on the island.

“This will contribute to the ongoing so-called brain drain that is causing many people to leave the island for job opportunities,” Rivera-Valentín said. “By employing scientists and engineers, the Arecibo Observatory has been able to preserve some of this important STEM expertise on the island. In terms of astronomy, Puerto Rico doesn’t have many options. This is best seen in the higher education system. As recently as ten years ago, Puerto Rico did not offer degrees in astronomy. But because of the work the observatory scientists have done to engage the local community, the University of Puerto Rico is now offering astronomy degrees.”

Without an active academic body, Rivera-Valentín sees the potential for momentum behind these efforts severely hampered.

“I hope I’m wrong,” Rivera-Valentín said.

You can read the latest NSF report on Arecibo here.

This article was originally published on universe today by Nancy Atkinson. Read the original article here.