Save Arecibo!

The Chronicle of Higher Education Nov. 29 edition posted an article on recommendations to reduce funding to Arecibo.  What’s that?  Only one of the coolest astronomy research facilities located in the hinterlands of Puerto Rico. My love of science fiction gives this place special meaning to me! 

Arecibo has the world’s largest radio-telescope. The first planets outside our solar system were discovered at Arecibo. It collects data for SETI (the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence).  The movies Golden Eye and Contact used it as a backdrop! 

I visited Arecibo in 1995.  The drive from San Juan was fascinating through lush green rolling hills out in the middle of nowhere.  There’s a winding road up to the Observatory. I need to go through my old photo albums and see if I got any good shots of the telescope. In the meantime, check out this satellite view from Google Maps

(Posted on behalf of Char Simser)