I first visited the observatory 35 years ago, when I was 12. For six decades, until its collapse on December 1, 2020, the telescope was an engine of discovery, generating groundbreaking results in studies of our atmosphere, the solar system, and the universe beyond. There, a suite of instruments was installed to collect radio waves reflected off the dish, and sometimes, to bounce them back into the sky. Four hundred and fifty feet up, suspended over the dish’s center by thick cables strung from three cement towers rising hundreds of feet atop the hills, was a 900-ton triangular platform. The telescope’s mirror, a 350-ton, bowl-shaped dish assembled from nearly 40,000 perforated aluminum panels, sat in a natural sinkhole more than three football fields across. Conceived in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik, the observatory’s radio telescope was a marvel of American engineering. We weren't paying attention to handicapped access so I'm not sure if there's parking uphill closer to the visitor's center.In the backcountry of Puerto Rico, hidden from prying eyes by round, misty hills, sits one of the world’s great astronomical facilities: the Arecibo Observatory. There is an area halfway up to rest if needed. Kids can do it, but it would be tough on people with joint issues or breathing problems. Very cool!īeware, the walk up the hill is very steep and longer than you expect. You get to go outside and see the remains of the towers and saucer in the sink hole. There is a short movie to watch about the history of the telescope, including its collapse and continued study using the old data. The exhibits inside are varied and fascinating. We showed up just 1 hour before closing and were the only visitors there. The staff was newly trained and eager to help. Be sure you arrive a good hour before closing so you have time to walk the steep hill from the parking lot to the visitor's center. We had to get a reservation online to visit. The visitor's center opened 2 days before we arrived (March 2022). I recommend sitting through the movie and getting the employee-led introduction to the telescope.Ĭost was $22 for us both to enter and we spent about two hours visiting. Lots of employees (student assistants?) were available to answer questions and demonstrate the lessons to be learned and show how they connect to our everyday life. The museum is small but very well curated. There are employees in the parking lot to assist in telling you where and how to park (back in perpendicular to the hill slope)- they may allow a drive up the road for a doorstep drop off for some in your party. There may be a shuttle that helps those with limited mobility, but stairs are required to get to where the shuttle would pick up/drop off (I only overheard talk of this and may have missed the whole conversation). The walk up is a steep hill at points and stairs at others. Parking for the observatory is significantly downhill from the museum and telescope. The drive to the observatory was more challenging than I expected with steep hills and switchback roads. My 9yo science-enthusiast daughter and I visited the museum in early Feb.
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