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A new era for Arecibo: legendary observatory begins next phase

The US National Science Foundation announces plan to use the historic site for biology and computer science education.
  1. Anil Oza
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The damaged dish and external equipment of the now closed Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, photographed on August 8, 2023.

The Arecibo Observatory's 305-metre-wide telescope dish, once revered by astronomers, now sits in pieces. Credit: Ángel Enrique Valentín for Nature

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that four institutions will take over stewardship of the site of the former Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, as it transitions from a research hub to an education centre.

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Nature 622, 19-20 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-03021-6

Updates & Corrections

  • Clarification 27 September 2023: An earlier version of this story said that the NSF will fund Arecibo C3 at $5 million over five years. The NSF has clarified that this figure is $5.5 million over five years. The agency also says that although there are currently no plans to use instruments on site for research, it will consider proposals for using existing and new equipment.

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