11/19/2023 0 Comments Arecibo telescope movieTo speed up observations, you can also gather radio waves from a larger area and focus them into a clearer signal. The longer you focus on an object, the more resolution you get. You essentially have two options to get high-quality radio astronomy data: more time or more space. These radio waves can be quite faint, complicating the task of separating them from the background noise. A radio telescope is basically an antenna that can tune in to some frequencies of electromagnetic radiation that emanate from celestial objects. Most of the gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, and infrared portions of the spectrum are blocked out by the atmosphere. The same way we observe visible light from celestial objects using our eyes and optical telescopes, we can also take advantage of the other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum in astronomy. Today, we’re discussing the Arecibo telescope collapse. Why was this telescope so important, how did it work, and why did it fail? I’m Grady, and this is Practical Engineering. The National Science Foundation, who owns the observatory, recently released their report to congress on the cause of the failure and the events leading up to it. This 57-year-old megastructure not only made many incredible scientific discoveries over its lifetime, it was also an emblem of humanity’s interest and curiosity about our place in the universe. In December of 2020, the Arecibo telescope - one of the largest and most iconic astronomical instruments in the world - collapsed.
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