THE ARECIBO RADIO OBSERVATORY TOUR
$575 Chartered For 10 People

The ride to the observatory will take you through the mountains to the small town of Arecibo.

Those who see the Arecibo Radio Telescope for the first time are astounded by the enormity of the reflecting surface, or radio mirror. It is a huge 'dish' 1000 feet in diameter and, with all the aluminum panels and steel cables, it appears to me to look like giant tinkertoys.

The Radio Telescope and the Observatory operates continuously on a 24-hour basis providing observing time, electronics, computer, travel and logistic support to scientists from all over the world.

The Arecibo Observatory is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), operated by Cornell University under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF). As the site of world's largest single-dish radio telescope, the Arecibo Observatory attracts visitors of all ages and from many countries.

The educational program centered on the theme "More Than Meets the Eye - Exploring the Invisible Universe", reflects the general idea that we can study our world with tools which extend our direct sensory experience. The program explores the unseen sky and, in particular, the objects that fall under the scrutiny of our radio telescope. Specifically, the program introduces visitors to the electromagnetic spectrum as a means of exploration, offers a framework of basic astronomy and atmospheric science, and provides understanding of the function and operation of the radio telescope. Some of Arecibo's most exciting new discoveries in the fields of radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy and the earth's atmosphere are presented.

In the auditorium, visitors can experience the scientific research facility of the Observatory as a dynamic organism through a 20 minute audiovisual show funded by the Angel Ramos Foundation entitled "A Day in the Life of the Arecibo Observatory". The show tells the story of the people who make Arecibo possible.