The National Science Foundation announced last week that it would not rebuild or replace the iconic Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, which collapsed in 2020. Instead, the NSF says it has launched calls for proposals to build a center multidisciplinary education on site.
Additionally, plans do not appear to allow for any future science or observation from the other facilities at the Arecibo site, as the NSF said it would not provide any “operational support for current science infrastructure, such as the radio telescope of 12 meters or Lidar Installation”, also on site.
The announcement was met with disappointment and disbelief.
“I am heartbroken by this decision,” said Puerto Rican and planetary astronomer Edgard Rivera-Valentín, born in Arecibo and inspired by science and discoveries made in their backyard.
“Arecibo’s role in inspiring generations of Puerto Ricans centered on the fact that we had a world-class facility doing cutting-edge science at home,” Rivera-Valentín said. Universe today. “When I had the privilege of working at the observatory, as the first scientist from Arecibeño to do so, I saw how he continued to play this important role. But he did it because we were doing great science with the telescope. He did it because the scientists at the observatory could be mentors and role models for the students. Without the telescope, without the scientists, I personally don’t see how going to the center home wouldn’t look like going to a memorial.
The collapse of the Arecibo radio telescope was a devastating blow to the radio astronomy community. Trouble began in 2017 for the nearly 55-year-old telescope when Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico, cutting off one of the 29-meter (96-foot) antennae suspended above the 305-meter (1,000 meter) dish. feet) of the telescope. , with falling debris puncturing the dish in several places.
In early 2020, earthquakes temporarily closed the observatory for safety reasons; then a succession of cable failures eventually led to the collapse in December 2020 of the 900-tonne instrument platform suspended above the observatory, which crashed into the giant dish of the iconic telescope. This collapse officially ended any possible hope of refurbishing the famous observatory.
Since then, many have called for the telescope to be rebuilt or an even better replacement telescope to be built at the site. Instead, the NSF wants Arecibo to serve as a hub for STEM education and awareness.
The NSF says it is following community recommendations not to plan reconstruction of the Arecibo Observatory. However, the most recent 10-Year Survey of Planetary Science and Astrobiology noted that “the loss of the Arecibo Observatory’s planetary radar significantly inhibits the ability to perform tracking characterization of NEOs (near-Earth object ). The existing radar infrastructure can only observe half of the asteroids once observable with Arecibo.
Rivera-Valentín, a planetary scientist whose work includes radar characterization of near-Earth objects, said: “I am appalled by the decision not to rebuild the Arecibo Telescope, particularly without an alternative plan to replace or exceed the capabilities now lost from Arecibo”.
The Arecibo Observatory was completed in 1963 and for more than 50 years (until China’s Five Hundred Meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) was completed in 2016) it was the largest unique aperture telescope in the world. It has been used in three major areas of research: radio astronomy, atmospheric science and radar astronomy. The observatory has appeared in movies, TV shows, and more, and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.
The facility has contributed to important breakthroughs in astronomy and cosmology, including the discovery of the first binary pulsar, the first millisecond pulsar and the first exoplanets, while helping to study asteroids and planets in the solar system. Additionally, the facility has also played an important role in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), providing source data for SETI@home and the SETI Institute’s Phoenix Project.
If the decision not to rebuild affects scientists’ ability to study many astronomical objects, this decision will also affect Puerto Ricans. The NSF noted that the observatory has become “a much-loved part of the community for many Puerto Rican citizens, serving as a source of local pride and economic benefit while providing access to training and employment. for many members of the community.
Rivera-Valentín worries that Puerto Rico doesn’t have many opportunities on the island for STEM professionals, it will be difficult to retain island-born scientists and engineers.
“This will contribute to the so-called brain drain, which sees many people leaving the island for job opportunities,” Rivera-Valentín said. “The Arecibo Observatory has been able to keep some of this important STEM expertise on the island by employing scientists and engineers. When it comes to astronomy, Puerto Rico doesn’t have a lot of opportunities. sees better in the university system. Even a decade ago, Puerto Rico did not offer any degrees in astronomy. But thanks to the work that the observatory’s scientists have done to involve the local community, there are now degrees in astronomy. astronomy offered by the University of Puerto Rico.
Without an active scientific facility, Rivera-Valentín sees the potential momentum behind these efforts being significantly hampered.
“I hope I’m wrong,” Rivera-Valentin 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.
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